Air Force seeking new runway for C-17 jets
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
As part of a plan to base eight C-17 jet transports in Hawai'i, the Air Force wants to build a new runway at either Barking Sands on Kaua'i or the Marine Corps base at Kane'ohe Bay.
There would be 60 takeoffs and landings on the new runway each month as part of practice for landing in combat areas.
Some Kaua'i residents worry that if the runway is built at Barking Sands, aircraft noise could become a problem, access to surfing beaches could be cut and the military jets will detract from the island's beauty.
But if Kane'ohe Bay is used for the runway, the additional 60 takeoffs and landings would amount to less than 1 percent of the total air traffic at the base, according to an environmental assessment done as part of the plan to base the C-17s at Hickam Air Force Base.
The environmental review also notes two other alternatives: conducting the training landings on the Mainland, or not basing the C-17s in Hawai'i.
Tour company operator Mitch Skaggerberg said at a public meeting that Kaua'i's visitors come "because it's one of the last ... unspoiled places in the island(s)" and that the training flights would disturb many of the visitors to Koke'e and Waimea.
But Col. Raymond Torres, commander of the 15th Airlift Wing, said at the meeting that the C-17s would have engines quieter than those on Aloha and Hawaiian airlines jets that fly into Lihu'e in far greater numbers every day.
Torres said the Air Force doesn't want the C-17s flying over housing, something that would occur at Kane'ohe Bay but not at Barking Sands.
"Barking Sands is unique in the islands of Hawai'i because it is out on the edge of a peninsula, meaning at least from the perspective of people and housing it has the least amount of, both on approach and departure, housing associated with the field."
Torres said he was not sure how beach and surfing access would be affected, but he emphasized the aircraft would be there for training.
"What you're going to likely see it do, if you see it at all, or hear it at all, is you'll see it come in, do a landing stop and probably a few minutes later take back off," he said.
The C-17 requires a concrete runway 3,500 feet to 5,000 feet long to practice short-distance combat landings. Hickam was not considered for the training landings because runways are shared with Honolulu International Airport and would have to be closed to be reinforced to handle the C-17 landings.
Bringing C-17s to Hawai'i is seen as key to transporting a planned Army brigade of 300 Stryker armored vehicles, and would give Hickam a capability it does not now have for military missions and disaster relief.
The House Armed Services Committee recently approved $62.6 million as part of the 2004 national defense authorization bill for C-17 maintenance facilities, squadron operations and a flight simulator at Hickam. The aircraft are expected to arrive in fiscal 2006.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
