301st Fighter Wing begins flight operations at Alliance

by Senior Airman Melissa Harvey
301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/31/2013 - ALLIANCE, Texas -- The 301st Fighter Wing will begin flight operations at Fort Worth Alliance Airport July 31 and continue through August, as much needed repairs are made to Carswell Field on Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.

Aircraft began moving from the base to FWA Monday and the runway portion of the construction project will begin soon, canceling all but a select few local flights while the runway is under repair.

"Our runway is beyond its service life (normal is 10 years, we are at 14) and requires major repairs," Capt. Jason Kitchen, 457th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. The runway "...is breaking up creating a FOD (foreign object debris) hazard to all aircraft that use our runway."

This move is the most economically responsible way to continue the 301st FW's mission and provide training. Some of its Airmen are scheduled to deploy later this year, says Brig. Gen. Ronald B. Miller, 301st Fighter Wing commander.

"The wing is preparing for a deployment and both the operations and maintenance groups have many flight related requirements to complete in August," said Miller.

During the runway maintenance period, more than 100 servicemen and women from the 301st FW will perform duties at Alliance Airport to secure, operate and maintain the 20 aircraft at their temporary home.

In order to minimize impact on the local community the 301st FW does not intend to conduct night flights and will transport many of the personnel to Alliance to ease congestion.