Kona considered for training of C-17s
| • | Air Force to start $150M in construction at Hickam |
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
The military is considering using the Kona International Airport at Keahole for training involving eight C-17 transports that are due to arrive in Hawai'i in late 2005.
Col. Raymond Torres, 15th Airlift Wing commander, said the Air Force still is looking for a landing strip, or multiple strips, needed for combat training, and is looking at the Kona airport to meet the requirement in addition to Barking Sands on Kaua'i and the Marine Corps base at Kane'ohe.
A training facility originally was considered as part of an environmental assessment looking at the entire C-17 basing plan, but was split off for separate review when issues arose that have delayed a training agreement.
The four-engine jets, which can carry 102 paratroopers or 85 1/2 tons of cargo, would require a 3,500- to 5,000-foot concrete runway to practice an estimated 60 landings and takeoffs a month.
Honolulu International Airport was ruled out because it is too busy and runways would have to be closed while they are reinforced to handle the high-impact landings. Kalaeloa and Wheeler Army Airfield are surrounded by too many homes, Torres said.
Only the Marine Corps base and Barking Sands were considered previously, and of the two, the Navy facility on Kaua'i was regarded more favorably because fewer residents would be affected.
"(But) to be honest, we didn't realize how many limitations there were at some of the military fields either due to community encroachment or due to some of the other services' plans for some of their fields," Torres said.
At Barking Sands, the training landing strip would be built adjacent to the runway, and the proximity of existing Navy buildings has become an issue.
"We're still considering it (Barking Sands)," Torres said, "but it's a pretty tight, small strip of land."
Torres said the Air Force now is going to look into Kona International, a 10,000-foot strip surrounded by lava field and with no beach or residential community issues to worry about.
"But I don't want to mislead you. We're still working on Barking Sands and trying to figure out which one, or which one of maybe two or three, is more viable," Torres said.
Meetings are just now being organized with the Federal Aviation Administration and airport officials. Torres said the need to examine the issue separately, and the extra time it takes, would mean the combat training might have to be delayed or conducted elsewhere, but it does not affect the timing of the arrival of the C-17s.
A new environmental assessment would not be finished until next year, he said.
