Posted on: Monday, March 14, 2005

Air Force plans new Kona airport runway

Advertiser Staff and News Services

The Air Force plans to build a $15 million runway at the Big Island's Kona International Airport.

The Air Force plans to use it to train crews of a new squadron of C-17 Globemaster cargo jets.

The runway will be built between the ocean and the existing runway at Kona, said 1st Lt. Craig Savage, an Air Force spokesman. It will be used for short takeoff and landing combat practice.

He says there is no timetable to build the runway since no Air Force money has been appropriated for the project.

Three other locations were considered for the 3,500- to 5,000-foot landing strip — Kalaeloa, the Marine Corps base at Kane'ohe Bay, and Barking Sands on Kaua'i.

Each of the big jet cargo carriers will be able to transport two of the Army's 20-ton Stryker vehicles as part of a plan to rapidly move the new fast-strike brigade to trouble spots in Asia and the Pacific.

The first of eight C-17 Globemaster cargo jets will arrive at Hickam Air Force Base in January.

The base has been preparing for the new aircraft, breaking ground last August for $30 million in new facilities, including a training simulator and operations and maintenance buildings.

One new four-engine C-17 is expected to arrive at Hickam each month from the Boeing's Long Beach, Calif., factory.

Eighty-seven active Air Force and Hawai'i Air National Guard pilots will operate the jets.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.