Thu, Sep 11, 2003
Issues Decision on Super Hornet Basing
The Department of the Navy issued a
record of decision (ROD) for the basing of 10 F/A-18E/F Super
Hornet strike-fighter squadrons and one fleet replacement squadron
on the east coast of the United States. The ROD details the plan to
home base eight F/A-18E/F fleet squadrons and one fleet replacement
squadron (120 aircraft) at Naval Air Station Oceana (NAS), Va., two
F/A-18E/F fleet squadrons (24 aircraft) at Marine Corps Air Station
Cherry Point (MCAS), N.C., and construct an outlying field (OLF) in
Washington County, N.C.
The need to construct and operate an OLF to support Super Hornet
training, especially field carrier landing practice, was a key
factor in the Navy’s environmental analysis. Existing
facilities do not have the capacity to meet Atlantic Fleet
requirements when the Navy and Marine Corps are ordered to
simultaneously surge-deploy multiple aircraft carriers and their
associated air wings, which was the case during Operations Enduring
Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The Navy considered sites in North
Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
The Washington County OLF site was recommended because it best
fits the screening criteria the Navy used in considering candidate
sites. These criteria included a low-population density and a
lack of airspace conflicts and obstructions (such as tall towers),
as well as, avoidance of extensive wetland complexes, public
interest areas and ecologically sensitive areas. With its central
location between MCAS Cherry Point and NAS Oceana, an OLF located
in Washington County provides the greatest potential as a valuable
training asset for current and future years. The final
environmental impact statement for the home basing of the F/A-18
E/F aircraft on the east coast was published in the Federal
Register and made public on July 18, 2003. The review period ended
on Aug.18.
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