McCarthy seeks money for new Mojave Airport fire station
Mojave Desert News - 04/09/2009
By Bill Deaver
MOJAVE — Funding for a new combined fire/crash rescue and hazardous materials response facility at the Mojave Airport/Spaceport is includeding in a request by Congressman Kevin McCarthy for the 2010 federal budget.
The new facility will serve both the airport/spaceport and replace the county's aging Mojave fire station, and will be staffed by county firefighters. East Kern Airport District General Manager Stuart Witt has been working with McCarthy and county officials for several years to obtain funding for the new station.
In a letter to McCarthy seeking $5 million in funding for the facility, Witt that noted that the airport/spaceport "hosts more flight operations than many regional airports plus extensive research, development, and testing of rocket engines and rocket-powered vehicles."
Witt also told the Congressman that Mojave Airport/Spaceport "also currently provides (fire and rescue) protection for U.S. Air Force QF-4 assets and USAF F-16s being flown here under contract to the Navy. Mojave has and will continue to host numerous DoD and NASA flight and ground operations such as F-22 cross-wind landing tests and rocket propulsion tests."
"With our close proximity to Edwards Air Force Base and China Lake NAWS and our existing government-approved (fire and rescue) capability, we frequently serve as a contingency landing location for DoD operations," Witt noted
The new station's hazmat capability will bring a capability to the desert that currently respond from Bakersfield.
'Earmark' requests
Funding for the Mojave Airport is included in McCarthy's annual request for federal funding for his district, sometimes referred to as "earmarks." The request includes funds to upgrade facilities at Edwards and China Lake, to help the Kern Community College District train renewable energy technicians at its Ridgecrest campus, for studies to improve the safety of Isabella Dam, and improve streets in Ridgecrest in addition to facilities in other communities in his vast district.
Each year, McCarthy publicizes his annual request for funding projects in his district. Full details are available at his website, www.kevinmcarthy.house.gov.
Beach volleyball In other business at Tuesdays’ East Kern Airport District board meeting, Witt announced that Scaled Composites employees have requested that the district add beach volleyball facilities to the new sports complex on Belshaw Street. The softball field at the complex was recently completed, and employee teams are being formed.
Contract fuel
District staff are working on a plan to purchase aviation fuel and JP-8 on long-term contracts which will allow the district to lock-in a price. BAE Flight Systems has asked the district to take-over their sales of JP-8, the military version of Jet-A fuel. Witt said more and more private jet aircraft have been landing at the airport because of the increase in interest in alternative energy operations, along with aircraft flying to Mojave for maintenance and refurbishing.
Solar power
A company that has been developing plans to provide solar power to airport businesses is expected to present a proposal to the district in about two weeks.
In other business, Witt reported that old trees are being removed form the airport and will be replaced, and oleander bushes along Belshaw and Flight Systems streets will be trimmed.
The radar repeater in the control tower should be up and running soon, Witt said, adding that he is working with officials at Edwards Air Force Base on details of a precision approach for runway 30.
Coming events
Board Member Cathy Hansen reported that the World War II B-17 bomber "Sentimental Journey" is expected to visit the airport in September, and that the Mojave Transportation Museum's Plane Crazy Saturday event may be rescheduled that month to accommodate the visit. Hansen also reported that the May 16th edition of Plane Crazy Saturday will include a salute to the region's emergency services, and that owners of historic Howard aircraft (See Prop Turns, this issue) will visit the airport on May 15th, which is also the date for the annual Intermediate Space Challenge at the airport.