Naval Air Station Oceana
This article needs to be updated.(August 2020) |
Naval Air Station Oceana | |||||||||||||
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Apollo Soucek Field | |||||||||||||
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] |
Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana or NAS Oceana (
The station is located on 23.9 square kilometers. It has total of 250 aircraft deployed and buildings valued at $800 million in plant replacement value. The total Navy community (which includes spouses) numbers around 20,000 people.[2]
The base is under the jurisdiction of
The airfield is known as Apollo Soucek Field, named after Lieutenant (later Admiral) Apollo Soucek, a Navy test pilot who set the global altitude record in 1930 by flying a Curtiss "Hawk" biplane to an altitude of 43,166 feet.
Constructed in 1941, and officially commissioned in 1943, NAS Oceana has been home to carrier-based aircraft since its inception. The field serves as home for 14 deployable Strike Fighter squadrons operating the
History
In November 1940, the U.S. Government acquired the land (around 1.1 km2) that would eventually become Naval Air Station Oceana. At that time, the surrounding area was mainly farmland susceptible to flooding, but it served as a useful outlying field for the rapidly expanding naval air force headquartered at NAS Norfolk and allowed units to work up for deployments away from the crowded base there. At first the US Government constructed a small airfield with 32 officers and 172 enlisted men.[2] In December 1940 began the construction of asphalt runways, which were completed by November 1941.[2]
In 1943, the United States Congress approved a project for the expansion of the station to allow for the deployment of up to 160 officers and 800 enlisted men, plus the construction of longer runways. At the same time, the station was changed to Naval Auxiliary Air Station.
NAS Oceana has grown to become one of the largest and most advanced air stations in the world, comprising 6,820 acres (including Dam Neck Annex). Obstruction clearances and flight easements total an additional 3,680 acres (14.9 km2). Its four runways, three measuring 8,000 feet (2,400 m) in length and one measuring 12,000 feet, are designed for high-performance aircraft. NAS Oceana's primary mission is to train and deploy the Navy's
Under the Navy's Master Jet Base concept, all Type/Model/Series (T/M/S) aircraft were home-based at one field with associated intermediate maintenance and training facilities. In the 1960s, NAS Oceana became the home to all East Coast based
Additionally, NAS Oceana became home to the
Aside from its military function, NAS Oceana was an alternative landing site for NASA's Space Shuttle until the program ended in 2011.
On April 6, 2012, an F/A-18D assigned to VFA-106 took off from NAS Oceana, encountered dual engine failure and
Current operations
Home to seventeen strike fighter squadrons of
Tomcat training was conducted by VF-101 Grim Reapers. NAS Oceana was host to the "Tomcat Sunset" reunion from 21 to 23 September 2006, where over 3000 former and current aircrew and maintainers came together to celebrate the retirement of the F-14 from active Fleet service. NAS Oceana also was the location where the F-14 took off for the last time for final flight of the type when F-14D, Bureau Number (BuNo) 164603, Modex 101, of Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) was ferried from NAS Oceana to Republic Airport in East Farmingdale on Long Island, NY for permanent static display at the Northrop Grumman facilities where the Tomcat was originally built.
During the 2005 round of
On December 20, 2005 the Virginia Beach City Council passed numerous ordinances enacted to satisfy BRAC, but did not act to condemn any of the homes in the designated areas. In a November 2006 referendum, citizens of Jacksonville voted to leave the Cecil Field Airport and Commerce Center in civilian hands under the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, effectively halting any future plans of relocation.
In addition to the squadrons listed, there are numerous other commands present as "tenant" commands at Oceana:
- aircraft carriershome-ported on the East Coast.
- Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, the command that serves as "Commodore" of all east coast Hornet and Super Hornet squadrons when not forward deployed with their respective carrier air wings.
- air-to-airtactics.
- Landing Signal Officer School (LSO School), where pilots selected to be LSOs (also known as "paddles"...which is a very old term from the days when the LSO actually signaled to the approaching aircraft with brightly colored paddles) go to learn how to "wave" planes aboard the "boat" (aircrew speak for the aircraft carrier).
- CVW commands, or Carrier Air Wing Commanders (also called CAG, which is an old term derived from the previous name for these commands, Carrier Air Groups), which are responsible for all squadrons in an air wing when actually on board a carrier or when preparing for overseas deployment. Carrier Air Wings One, Three, Seven, and Eight maintain headquarters at NAS Oceana.
- Strike Fighter Composite Squadron 12 (VFC-12), a Navy Reserve F/A-18A+ Hornet squadron that provides adversary/aggressor training services to Atlantic Fleet strike fighter squadrons.
- Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 56 (VR-56), a Navy Reserve C-40 squadron that provides worldwide operational support airlift for deployable U.S. Navy Fleet units and shore establishment commands.
- Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility Virginia Capes (FACSFAC VACAPES, call sign GIANT KILLER), which is responsible for surveillance, management and sea and air traffic control of the Virginia Capeswarning areas for training purposes, as well as surveillance duties in support of Homeland Defense.
- Construction Battalion Unit 415 (CBU 415), a Navy SeabeeBattalion.
- Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Oceana (CNATTU Oceana), which trains Navy and Marine Corps aircraft maintainers on the F/A-18 and operates both A and C schools.
- Marine Aviation Training Support Group 33, a United States Marine Corps training administration command, primarily supporting USMC aviation student and instructor staff personnel assigned to the F/A-18 Fleet Readiness Squadron, VFA-106.
- A branch Medical and Dental clinic under the command of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA.
Outlying field controversy
Plans by the Navy to construct a
In early 2011, the U.S. Navy announced it was suspending plans for the construction of the outlying landing field until at least 2014.[8] In November 2013, the US Navy announced it was cancelling plans for a Navy OLF in North Carolina. [9]
Tenant Commands
Carrier Wings
Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic
- USS Harry S. Truman(CVN-75)
- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower(CVN-69)
- USS George H.W. Bush(CVN-77)
- USS Gerald R. Ford(CVN-78)
Tenant squadrons
Notes:
Environment
In mid-May 2017, 94,000 US gallons (360,000 L) of jet fuel spilled from a storage tank, and also spread onto adjoining properties and waterways, notably Wolfsnare Creek. The installation worked closely with local communities to assist with emergency relocation and issuing water. Fishermen were warned to refrain from fishing, crabbing and other recreational activities in the area. Affected wildlife was identified and helped as part of the cleanup.[10]
See also
- Skytypers Air Show Team (fatal accident September 7, 2007)
- List of United States Navy airfields
References
- PDF
- ^ a b c d "History". cnrma.cnic.navy.mil. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ "North Carolinians Opposed to the Outlying Landing Field". Noolf.com. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ OLFEIS | Navy Outlying Landing Field Environmental Impact Statement Archived February 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The next Oceana? [dead link]
- ^ Hampton, Jeff (January 28, 2011). "Navy scraps plan for jet landing field until at least 2014". The Virginian-Pilot. Norfolk, VA. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
- ^ News, Drew C. Wilson, Havelock. "Navy cancels current plans for OLF in North Carolina, Virginia". Havelock News. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
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has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ NAS Oceana officials urge caution after 94,000 gallon jet fuel spill, Associated Press, NavyTimes.com, 2017-05-14
External links
- Official website
- FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective April 18, 2024
- FAA Terminal Procedures for NTU, effective April 18, 2024
- Resources for this U.S. military airport:
- FAA airport information for NTU
- AirNav airport information for KNTU
- ASN accident history for NTU
- NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for KNTU