More Airfields Equals More Opportunities
Abstract
Owning and operating airports is an expensive business. For many local governments and private corporations involved in this endeavor, the business of airport management can be extremely lucrative when the facility and the operation are effectively and efficiently administered. For the Department of Defense (DoD), airport management is a huge expense. During this time of historic budget reductions, one wonders whether the existing portfolio of military airfields can be sustained. The U.S. Air Force portfolio of airfields currently in place in the European theater is the focus of this research project because the United States has an extensive and long-standing inventory of airfields there. Ultimately, this thesis asks whether significant strategic and political changes necessitate a different approach to U.S. military airport management in Europe. The U.S. Air Force should stay in Europe, but it should convert some of its heavy, main operating bases to more flexible, "lighter" installations for both economic and strategic reasons. In addition to removing the three permanent fighter wings from Europe, USAFE must leverage the capabilities of the respective host nations (Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom) of these installations to provide many of the support services currently performed by U.S. airmen. Moreover, USAFE should follow NATO's enlargement into Eastern Europe, making the most of these states' readiness, willingness, and ability to support U.S. requirements in airfields and other basing needs. This eastern expansion must be done without the large investment in support infrastructure, which was typical of airfield development in earlier decades. Greater reliance on old and new NATO allies will enable a smaller USAFE force to go to more places. Ultimately, more airfields will lead to more opportunities to do greater things.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA560639
Entities
People
- Daniel C. Furleigh
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School