Tue, Sep 16, 2003
Military Aircraft Prepare To Dodge Isabel
There are few things that will cause America's air power to turn
and run. Damned few. But they're doing just that along the
Southeastern Seaboard as all hands watch the progress of Hurricane
Isabel.
Isabel is a monster of a storm, classified as Category 4 with
occassional leaps to Category 5. And it's bearing down on the
military complex surrounding Norfolk (VA).
"We're watching the storm and deciding whether to start moving
people and aircraft," said Troy Snead, spokesman at the Oceana
Naval Air Station, in an interview with ANN. Soldiers, sailors,
airmen and Marines in the area are also worried about getting their
families to safety. "Soon after we make a decision," said Snead,
"we'll give those personnel with families a chance to get their
loved ones out of here."
Aircraft at Oceana Naval Air Station
in Virginia Beach (VA) and at the Norfolk Naval Station's Chambers
Field will be flown inland, or housed inside hangars, officials
said.
Langley Air Force Base in Hampton plans to evacuate its F-15 and
F-16 fighter jets as well as its C-21 transport planes Tuesday
afternoon. They will fly to bases in Indiana, Florida, Illinois and
North Dakota. Disabled aircraft will be moved inside, said
spokesman Capt. Jeff Glenn.
Why wait so long, until 48 hours before the storm hits? For one
thing, military officials say, Isabel is huge. The question
becomes, where to move the aircraft to ensure they stay safe and
dry.
The Navy's aircraft carriers based in Norfolk, the
Enterprise and George Washington, are already at
sea.
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