Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress

Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress is a naval aviation auxiliary airfield located in Fentress, Virginia, on the eastern shore of the James River near Chesapeake, Virginia. It serves as a satellite field to Naval Air Station Oceana and provides touch-and-go, field carrier landing practice, and other flight operations for naval aviation units assigned to Carrier Air Wing squadrons and fleet replacement squadrons. The facility supports United States Navy training requirements and serves as an instrumented site for pilot qualification and carrier landing proficiency.

History

Fentress was established in 1942 during World War II as part of an expansion of Naval Air Station support infrastructure alongside fields such as Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Harvey Point and Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) sites. Postwar realignment placed Fentress within the operational support network for Atlantic Fleet aviation, linking it administratively to Naval Air Station Oceana and operationally to Carrier Air Wing deployments and Fleet Replacement Squadron training. During the Cold War era, the field facilitated training for pilots destined for carriers including USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and USS Nimitz (CVN-68), and supported operations tied to exercises like Operation Ocean Venture and Exercise Northern Wedding. Later infrastructure investments reflected broader Base Realignment and Closure outcomes and aviation safety improvements recommended by Chief of Naval Operations directives. In recent decades, Fentress has been notable in regional coordination with City of Chesapeake and state agencies during construction and environmental permitting actions tied to National Environmental Policy Act compliance.

Facilities and Layout

The field features a single primary runway oriented 5/23 with an asphalt surface suitable for jet and turboprop operations, accompanied by taxiways, tiedown areas, and an arresting gear system to simulate aircraft carrier recoveries. Aviation support includes hangars, squadron ramps, a control tower, and firefighting/rescue stations equipped to Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting standards. Navigational aids and landing systems at Fentress integrate with Instrument Landing System procedures and provide telemetry and recording capabilities used by Landing Signals Officer teams during Field Carrier Landing Practice. The installation's proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and the James River influences airspace coordination with nearby civil airports such as Norfolk International Airport and Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, and with military airspace sectors controlled by Naval Air Station Oceana and Joint Base Langley–Eustis.

Operations and Units

Fentress is primarily a training and auxiliary operations site supporting squadrons from Naval Air Station Oceana, including strike fighter squadrons, electronic attack units such as those transitioning from Grumman EA-6B Prowler to Boeing EA-18G Growler platforms, and Fleet Replacement Squadron student pilots. The airfield facilitates day and night Field Carrier Landing Practice, touch-and-go circuits, and emergency field landings for aircraft from carriers like USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) during pre-deployment workups. Support units encompass air traffic control personnel drawn from Naval Air Training and Education Command standards, maintenance detachments aligned with Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, and crash crew elements trained to DoD Instruction firefighting protocols. Interoperability exercises occasionally involve units from United States Marine Corps aviation elements and allied partners participating in Joint Task Force training events.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Environmental management at Fentress addresses wetlands near the Elizabeth River tributaries, shoreline impacts on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and permitting under Clean Water Act provisions in coordination with agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Measures include stormwater controls, spill prevention programs tied to Environmental Protection Agency guidance, and habitat mitigation for species of concern protected under the Endangered Species Act. Safety programs follow Naval Aviation risk management, including periodic inspections under Naval Safety Center protocols, hazardous materials handling consistent with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, and noise abatement procedures coordinated with the City of Chesapeake and State of Virginia authorities to reduce community impact.

Notable Incidents and Accidents

Notable events at or involving operations from the field have been investigated under Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Naval Safety Center processes, including runway excursions, practice arresting gear failures, and emergency landings that prompted safety recommendations to Chief of Naval Air Training. Incidents requiring coordination with Virginia State Police and local emergency medical services led to procedural updates in aircraft rescue response times and airfield contingency planning. Investigations have informed modifications to Field Carrier Landing Practice protocols, arresting gear inspection intervals, and pilot qualification checklists used fleet-wide.

Category:United States Navy airfields Category:Installations of the United States Navy in Virginia