- Naval Air Station New Iberia
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The Naval Air Station New Iberia, located near New Iberia, Louisiana, was a short-lived training facility of the United States Navy which operated for a mere five years in the 1960s.
History
The site of NAS New Iberia had served as a civil airport between 1946 and 1954. In 1954 the Department of Defense selected the airport for development as a naval air station.
Due to the runway length requirements of naval jet aircraft, a total of 4,000 acres were purchased by the Federal Government and an 8,002-foot concrete runway, 16/34, was constructed. [1] Commissioned in 1960, Naval Auxiliary Air Station New Iberia was located on US-90 just outside of New Iberia and covered an area of 4,347 acres of land and had an elevation of 24 feet. With its opening, the Advanced Training Unit-B engaged in anti-submarine training operating Grumman TS-2A Trackers was moved from Naval Air Station Kingsville South Field, Kingsville, Texas [2] and redesignated VT-27.[3]
Approximately 1,000 military personnel and 100 civilian workers were stationed here in 1964, including the VT-27. The Naval Air Station at New Iberia continued to function until 1964 when the military abandoned the facility. On 29 September 1964, VT-27 transferred to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, with the squadron instructor pilots flying out the TS-2 Trackers. [4] NAS New Iberia was closed in January of 1965.[5]
Upon the closure of the naval field, the Iberia Parish governing body petitioned the U.S. government for release of 2,100 acres of air station property for civil aviation use. The petition was granted in 1970 and the airport was given its present name, Acadiana Regional Airport. The Acadiana Regional Airport is presently classified as a General Aviation Transport airport by the FAA. By definition, the airport is capable of serving all classes of aircraft.[6]
A variety of aviation-related businesses are located at the airport. Numerous helicopters and seaplanes utilize the airport in support of the offshore petroleum industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Commercial passenger service is provided by a number of charter operators at the airport.[7]
References
- ^ http://www.iberiabiz.org/site165.php
- ^ http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/TX/Airfields_TX_CorpusS.htm
- ^ http://a4skyhawk.org/3e/vt27/vt27.htm
- ^ http://a4skyhawk.org/3e/vt27/vt27.htm
- ^ http://www.usskidd.com/heritage-bases.html
- ^ http://www.iberiabiz.org/site165.php
- ^ http://www.iberiabiz.org/site165.php
Categories:- United States Navy bases
- United States naval air stations
- Military facilities in Louisiana
- Airports in Louisiana
- Closed facilities of the United States Navy
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