Andrews Field
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| Andrews Field | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Andrews Field |
| Iata | ADW |
| Icao | KADW |
| Type | Public / Military |
| Owner | United States Air Force |
| Operator | [United States Air Force |
| City-served | Washington, D.C. |
| Location | Camp Springs, Maryland |
| Elevation-f | 93 |
| Runway1-number | 01/19 |
| Runway1-length-f | 11,015 |
| Runway1-surface | Concrete |
Andrews Field Andrews Field is a joint civil-military airfield in Camp Springs, Maryland, serving the Washington, D.C. region and supporting operations for the United States Air Force, the President of the United States, and numerous civil aviation activities. The installation hosts Air Force units, executive transport, diplomatic flights, and transient commercial services, linking it to The White House, Pentagon, United States Secret Service, Department of Defense, and international diplomatic missions based in Washington, D.C.. The airfield's facilities and mission complement nearby commercial airports such as Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
History
Construction of the airfield began in the 1940s during World War II as a military aviation facility to support operations for the Army Air Forces and later the United States Air Force. Postwar expansions reflected Cold War priorities, with the base accommodating presidential airlift and strategic air deterrent support tied to Strategic Air Command and national leadership transport networks involving aircraft types associated with Air Force One operations. In the 1950s and 1960s the installation hosted units that engaged with NATO exercises and regional contingency plans connected to events like the Berlin Airlift legacy and Cold War crisis management. Throughout the late 20th century the field evolved to support joint service operations, VIP transport missions related to the Executive Office of the President, and contingency planning during conflicts such as the Gulf War. Recent decades saw infrastructure modernization tied to security initiatives after the September 11 attacks and integration with homeland defense arrangements coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security and regional commands such as Northern Command.
Facilities and infrastructure
The airfield comprises runways, taxiways, hangars, an apron capable of accommodating widebody and presidential transport aircraft, and specialized facilities for aircraft maintenance linked to units of the Air Mobility Command. Hangars and maintenance depots provide sustainment for tanker, cargo, and executive transport fleets with links to contractor maintenance organizations and logistics elements of the Defense Logistics Agency. On-base support infrastructure includes air traffic control towers integrated with Federal Aviation Administration procedures, instrument landing systems compatible with National Airspace System requirements, and secure ramps for diplomatic flights arriving from embassies and missions accredited to United States Department of State. Base housing, medical facilities associated with Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and security perimeters coordinate with the United States Secret Service for high-profile movements. Environmental management programs align with Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and regional planning with Prince George's County, Maryland authorities.
Operations and airlines
Primary operations are military and executive airlift missions conducted by units under Air Mobility Command and support wings tasked with presidential airlift and VIP transport linked to Marine One helicopter operations run by Marine Helicopter Squadron One. The field handles transient civil flights, diplomatic charters, and occasional scheduled commercial services coordinated under agreements with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration. Executive aviation operators, government contractors, and foreign government flights operate from the field with ground handling by certified fixed-base operators that serve delegations traveling to Embassy of the United States, Washington, D.C. events, summits like the G7 Summit, and congressional visits to Capitol Hill. Aircraft types routinely present include C-32, C-40, and various business jets managed by civilian and military flight crews affiliated with units from Joint Base Andrews.
Statistics and traffic
Annual statistics reflect a mix of military sorties, VIP missions, and civil movements, with traffic peaks coinciding with presidential travel cycles, international summits hosted in Washington, D.C., and national events on the National Mall. Cargo throughput and passenger counts vary year to year based on mission tempo, with airlift operations supporting deployments to theaters associated with United States Central Command and humanitarian missions coordinated with United States Agency for International Development. Air traffic management interfaces with the Potomac TRACON and regional approach facilities that sequence arrivals and departures among the Washington metropolitan airports, balancing noise abatement procedures and community agreements involving Prince George's County and neighboring jurisdictions.
Accidents and incidents
The facility's long operational history includes occasional incidents involving military and civilian aircraft during training, maintenance, or transit. Investigations into accidents have engaged agencies such as the National Transportation Safety Board and Air Force Safety Center to examine causal factors, implement safety recommendations, and update procedures consistent with standards promulgated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Notable security incidents have triggered operational reviews coordinated with the United States Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration to refine protocols for VIP protection and airfield access control.
Access and transportation
Access to the airfield is controlled and coordinated through military gates and visitor procedures tied to Joint Base Andrews access policies, with public ground transportation links to the Washington metropolitan area via state routes connecting to Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) and regional transit services. Shuttle services connect the airfield to nearby rail stations on lines serving Washington Union Station and the Metrorail system, facilitating delegations traveling to federal agencies such as the United States Department of State and congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Security screening and credentialing are managed jointly by installation commanders and federal agencies for authorized personnel and accredited diplomats.
Category:Airports in Maryland Category:United States Air Force bases