Legislators bid for more Navy planes at Cherry Point

Two state legislators have written members of Congress urging them to ask the Navy to move jets from Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia to Cherry Point.

N.C. Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare, and N.C. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, say the move would eliminate the need to construct an outlying landing field in Camden, Currituck or Gates counties where it is not wanted.

A law signed last month does not grant state consent to the federal government to acquire land for an OLF in counties that don't have an existing military base.

Basnight and Owens said in their jointly signed letter that if an OLF is needed, it could be constructed near Cherry Point.

The Navy currently uses Fentress Field in Virginia Beach, Va., as an OLF. Development has encroached on the perimeter of the field, and residents there have complained about aircraft noise, which happens mostly at night as pilots practice aircraft carrier landings.

Many in northeastern North Carolina are opposed to construction of a practice landing strip there, saying the Navy simply wants to eliminate much of the noise around Virginia Beach, Va., while keeping all the economic benefit.

Opponents in North Carolina also say an OLF would impact the quality of life for nearby residents.

"You can't feel good about Virginia eating the pie and just feeding crumbs to us," Basnight said Monday in a telephone interview.

He said the proposal would put an OLF and more jets in the only place in North Carolina that wants them.

"The Navy has no welcome mat in Virginia or in North Carolina, except in Craven County," Basnight said. "We thought that this proposal may give some renewed welcome. We're the only ones that have offered the Navy an OLF."

The Navy, in its initial stages of site evaluations for an OLF, considered a location in Craven County northeast of Vanceboro but later rejected it. Craven County commissioners had passed a resolution in support of the OLF site on the condition that squadrons of F-18 Super Hornets be based at Cherry Point.

"We will have a surge in our economy by placing the fighter wings in Craven County at Cherry Point where they are wanted," Basnight said. "If you follow this effort by the Navy, you will find that the only community that wants the OLF is Craven County that I am aware of."

Basnight admitted that he was unsure what affect the letter may have.

"You're never certain what course Congress may take," he said. "It is so large and moves so slow."

Havelock officials have voiced concerned that the failure to locate an OLF in North Carolina could prompt the Navy to change its mind over the proposed basing of two Super Hornet squadrons at Cherry Point. Those squadrons are expected in 2014 and 2015, and the Navy has already awarded a $14.4 million contract for hangar renovations in preparation of the new jets.

Jimmy Sanders, Havelock mayor and president of the lobby group Allies for Cherry Point's Tomorrow, said he would welcome Navy squadrons to the air station as long as it didn't mean the loss of Marine Corps aircraft, particularly F-35B Joint Strike Fighter squadrons.

"Number one, we are the premier Marine Corps air station and we want to remain so," Sanders said. "We would welcome all the Navy squadrons they want to send as long as it doesn't jeopardize any Marine Corps aircraft or the F-35. We are a Marine Corps air station. Marine Corps aviation is what we do."

Cherry Point could receive as few as two or as many as 11 squadrons of Joint Strike Fighters, which are designed to replace the current Marine Corps arsenal of Harriers, Prowlers and Hornets. Beaufort, S.C. is also being considered as a home base for the aircraft.

The Navy's final decision is expected in the fall of 2010, with implementation of the approved plan taking 11 years beginning in 2012. However, that does not necessarily mean new squadrons will begin arriving at Cherry Point in 2012, but that plans for the arrival of the jets will begin to be put in place.