Base aérienne 186 Nouméa-La Tontouta

Base aérienne 186 Lieutenant-Paul-Klein is a French Air and Space Force air base located at the Nouméa - La Tontouta airport in Païta, New Caledonia. It is situated 52 km northwest of Nouméa. The base was initially created in 1941 by the Free French Air Forces (FAFL) and subsequently expanded by the United States armed forces during the Pacific War. It was placed under guardianship from 1969 to 1975, then reconstructed south of the runway and inaugurated on April 1, 1976. The base was formerly known as the Tontouta Naval Air Base (BAN Tontouta) and operated under the French National Navy. On August 23, 2011, it transitioned to the control of the French Air and Space Force and was officially named Base aérienne 186 Lieutenant-Paul-Klein, in honor of Lieutenant Paul Klein, a Caledonian who joined the Free French forces in December 1940. The air force's area of control covers 191 hectares. The units stationed at the base include the Flottille 25F (since September 2000) and the Escadron de Transport outre-mer 00.052 Tontouta (since April 1976). Aircraft deployed there include SA330 Puma helicopters, CASA CN-235 transport aircraft, and Falcon 20 aircraft.