0 Governor McDonnell Comments on U.S. Navy’s Announcement of Airfield Contract Proposal

Governor Bob McDonnell today released the following statement after the U.S. Navy announced that it will begin negotiations with the City of Franklin to conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) operations at Franklin Municipal Airport for the E-2/C-2 squadrons that are currently home-based at the Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field. The decision came in the wake of the Navy’s confirmation that it held an already existing real estate interest in Franklin Municipal Airport which effectively ends any previous efforts to acquire through a competitive process the use of another airfield suitable for the E-2/C-2 to use. This move also negates the necessity for the Navy to conduct any E-2/C-2 related operations at NAS Jacksonville, Florida four to six times per year. Once completed, this agreement will provide increased local airfield capacity for FCLP training.

Speaking about the announcement, Governor McDonnell noted, “This is a great utilization of resources between the City of Franklin and the U.S. Navy. The Franklin Municipal Airport is a logical and convenient choice that meets the current needs of the Navy. In addition, the City of Franklin will see direct economic benefits from the lease. This good news is the result of eight months of collaboration between the Virginia Department of Aviation, our administration, and the U.S. Navy to identify a suitable training field.”

The Navy is negotiating for the use of an airfield for E-2/C-2 aircraft in order to provide a near term, interim solution to Navy Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Fentress FCLP capacity shortfalls. The agreement would also eliminate the need for the E-2/C-2 Fleet Replacement Squadron to conduct out-of-area FCLP operations in NAS Jacksonville, Fla., four to six times per year.

This action will be examined under all appropriate environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act. The goal is to achieve initial operating capability by January 2012.