Allen Army Airfield to save Air Force money, provide tactical training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Brig. Gen. Charles Foster, 176th Wing commander, and Col. Thomas Bergeson, 3rd Wing commander, were on hand Sept. 29 during the ribbon cutting ceremony for Allen Army Airfield, only the seventh assault landing strip in the Air Force, located north of Elmendorf. 

After four years of planning and funding, Allen AAF had its first assault landing, which was only one of many to come. 

Bergeson spoke to the crowd that was present to witness the first assault landing at Allen AAF. "We are excited to expand our C-17 training operations even further at Allen Army Airfield," said Bergeson. "This will provide trained and ready aircrew ready for the joint fight which translates into increased combat capability." 

Before Allen AAF, the nearest assault landing strip that Elmendorf's C-17 Globemaster III pilots could practice on was just outside of McChord Air Force Base, Wash. This is about six hours of cruising round-trip and $100,000 worth of fuel. Elmendorf's 517th Airlift Squadron and the 249th AS, an Alaska Air National Guard unit, made about 20 of these trips last year, costing nearly $2 million. Therefore, only after about five years the $11 million dollar assault strip will pay for itself. 

Up till Sept. 29, the 517th AS and the 249th AS have been practicing assault landings on Elmendorf's runway by using a painted marker or have been flying several hours to get beneficial training. 

Lt. Col. Andy Hird, 517th AS commander, explained the assault landing as taking a 500,000-pound jet and slamming it down on the ground at six feet per second to land it within the first 500 feet of a 3,500-foot runway. 

"It's probably the most dangerous thing we do," said Hird. "Landing at a steep approach with a heavy aircraft on a short narrow runway, and if we don't practice that, then it can have serious consequences or mishaps." 

Hird expressed why it's important to have an efficient place to practice this tactical training. He said without the training, if the pilots were to go in a deployed location and not execute this landing then the mission could be held back. Hours could be spent cleaning up debris and some necessary tools may not get delivered on time. 

"Allen Army Airfield will not just be used for assault landings," said Maj. Todd Cotsman, 3rd Operation Support Squadron director of staff. "The field will be used for many things. We can practice many high and low altitude approaches. Also what we can't practice in the Anchorage area because of commercial air traffic, we will be able to do at Allen Army Airfield." 

Allen AAF will be providing a multitude of training opportunities along with saving the Air Force money. 

"Allen Army Airfield will be reducing risk by expanding tactical training capability," said Hird. "After all, we need to train as we fight."