Posted on: Friday, August 20, 2004
Two islands may share air wing
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye said yesterday that the Navy is considering whether it can base an aircraft carrier air wing at four locations on O'ahu and Kaua'i to make it easier to secure one of the flattops for Hawai'i.
Inouye, D-Hawai'i, said the Navy would like to base a carrier here, "but they have to clear up a few things as to how they would accommodate the air wing." Infrastructure for a carrier's 70 to 80 aircraft is a concern, as is jet noise. "What I suggested was you can have some at Barbers Point, some at Kane'ohe, some can go to Barking Sands and some can go to Wheeler (Army Airfield)," he said. "For example, why should a helicopter — because that's part of an air wing — have to be with the fighters?" Inouye noted that a reinforced concrete strip for combat takeoff and landing practice may be built at Kona International Airport on the Big Island for eight C-17 cargo carriers that are coming to Hickam Air Force Base in 2006. "Why should (a carrier's) reconnaissance planes do the same kind of exercises as the fighters?" he said. "They can have a different place, just as the C-17 will do much of its training in Kona." Inouye said the Navy is investigating the air wing basing proposal. If the decision is made to base a carrier in Hawai'i, it wouldn't arrive for at least five years, he said. "That’s not my decision to make, but it will not be tomorrow," he said, "because … you'll have to prepare to accommodate that. You need housing. You need a berthing place." In October, the Pacific Fleet initiated a $1.8 million study on the possibility of basing a carrier strike group and air wing in Hawai'i. Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
