Before the formation of the Air Base, there was already an Indonesian Air Force post which was under the Balikpapan Air Force Base but due to the development of situation and tension with Malaysia in Ambalat, the leadership of the Air Force decided to form a new airbase.
Before the creation of the Air Base, there existed an Indonesian Air Force facility located within the Balikpapan Air Force Base; nonetheless, as events unfolded and tensions heightened between Indonesia and Malaysia in Ambalat, the Air Force command chose to establish a new airbase.