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Continental to Cease Operations, DOD to Review Airfield for BRAC List
By John Ennis (Published 3/04)
On any given day a drive near Ellington Field may offer sight of a wide range of aircraft ranging from Air Force One to NASA's KC-135 zero gravity "Vomit Comet." You may catch a glimpse of a T-38 Talon or F-16 Falcon darting thru the sky. You may even get a nice long, slow look at NASA's Super Guppy transport plane that appears to be defying physics by staying in the air.
Now known nationally as the airbase President George W. Bush flew F-102s from during a stint with the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, Ellington Field is best known locally for providing Homeland security for the entire Houston area and for offering an attractive alternative to the long drive across town to catch a flight at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The convenient 10-minute, 28-mile hop from Ellington to Bush Intercontinental courtesy of Continental Express is popular for reasons ranging from the free parking to smaller lines at the security checkpoints. Although always factored in personally as an incentive to fly with Houston-based Continental, the service will cease for good on Sept. 7 because of money. According to a Continental spokesman, the cost for Continental, the only commercial carrier at Ellington, to make necessary renovations to the facility is just too high.
The Houston Airport System (HAS) owns and operates about 2,000 of the field's 2,200 acres including the runways and control tower after acquiring the 87-year old airfield in 1984. HAS spokesman Ernie Desoto recently confirmed a master plan outlining Ellington Field 's future is nearing completion and talks are under way with other potential users.
Ellington is the smallest of Houston's three primary airports. According to the HAS, Bush Intercontinental is the eighth busiest commercial airport in the United States, William P. Hobby Airport ranks 41st and Ellington will soon be without a commercial carrier.
Besides Continental Express, Ellington Field supports operations of NASA, the United Parcel Service, the Commemorative Air Force and the United States military including the Texas Air National Guard, the Texas Army National Guard and the United States Coast Guard. Ellington is also the site of the annual Wings Over Houston Airshow, one of the largest shows of its kind anywhere.
The Coast Guard uses the base to conduct life saving missions to the Texas and Louisiana coast 24 hours a day, 365 days a year utilizing HH-65 Dolphin helicopters. Late last year the Bay Runner featured a series of journals written by Megan Vanlangendock of the 1-149th Aviation Battalion from Ellington Field which is currently deployed in Bosnia with their Apache Helicopters.
But it is the future of the Texas Air National Guard's 147th Fighter Wing that has caused concern locally. The 147th fighter wing uses F-16 Fighting Falcons to protect Houston and the greater southeast Texas Gulf Coast area.
Next year the Department of Defense will take a look at all military installations as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process in an effort to cut 25 percent from its multibillion dollar budget. This leaves Ellington Field's military commands including the 147th at risk of being relocated or lost. The state of Texas is expected to take a large hit because of base closures and relocations as a result of the 2005 BRAC, and now officials in communities near bases all over the state have launched campaigns in support of their bases.
Locally, the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership formed The Ellington Field Task Force (http://www.supportellingtonfield.com) to ensure that the 147th remains fully operational and based at the field. The thinking is that Houston, the nation's fourth largest city, is too critical to leave at risk with the closest aircraft having to fly from Fort Worth, San Antonio or Corpus Christi if needed in a crisis situation.
Houston is home to one of the world's largest petrochemical and refining complexes, one of the nation's largest ports, NASA's Johnson Space Center, the Texas Medical Center and too many other vital national assets to be left vulnerable.
Originally founded by the military in 1917 as one of the largest aviation training facilities in the nation, Ellington was home to approximately 5,000 men and 250 aircraft by the end of World War I. After the war, Ellington fell into decline and was destroyed by fire in 1927. It remained closed until Congress appropriated $7 million to rebuild the base because of the threat of a second World War. The first plane landed at the newly constructed Ellington Field on June 26, 1941 just nine months after construction began. It wasn't long before the military began training pilots and bombardiers again for combat, and manpower at the base climbed once again to 5,000 personnel.
In September 1947, Ellington Field became Ellington Air Force Base when the U.S. Air Force was designated a separate service. Ellington was again fully activated in 1949 as the only post-war U.S. Air Force navigator training school. When the Korean War began in 1950, Ellington resumed its duties of training men for war until it was deactivated by the Air Force in 1976. It was acquired by the City of Houston in 1984 and is operated as a joint use civil and military airport although it seems much is in doubt or at risk for the field.
Keep an eye out for future issues of the Bay Runner as we plan to keep you informed about what the future of Ellington holds. Learn more about The Ellington Field Task Force at www.supportellingtonfield.com.
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