NALF Fentress | |||||||||||
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USGS aerial image - 9 April 1990 | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
| Owner | U.S. Navy | ||||||||||
| Location | Chesapeake,Virginia | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 16 ft / 5 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 36°41′31″N076°08′04″W / 36.69194°N 76.13444°W /36.69194; -76.13444 | ||||||||||
![]() Interactive map of NALF Fentress | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Source:Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||||||||||
Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Fentress (ICAO:KNFE,FAALID:NFE) is a military useairport located inChesapeake, Virginia. This military airport is owned by theU.S. Navy and is under the operational control ofNaval Air Station Oceana,Virginia. The airfield primarily supports day and nightField Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) operations by US Navy and US Marine CorpsF/A-18 Hornet, and US NavyF/A-18 Super Hornet,E-2 Hawkeye andC-2 Greyhound aircraft based in Virginia and the Carolinas.[1]
Although many U.S. airports use the same three-letterlocation identifier for theFAA andIATA, this airport is assignedNFE by the FAA but has no designation from the IATA.[2]
Fentress NALF has one operationalrunway designated Runway 5/23 with anasphalt surface measuring 8,004 by 175 feet (2,440 x 53 m).[1] Four additional shorter paved runways dating from the airfield's original construction during World War II are located in the airfield's northern quadrant. These additional runways are closed to aircraft.On 5 July 2011, it was announced that NALF Fentress would close in January 2012 for 9 months for major repairs. Touch and go maneuvers would move toNaval Air Station Oceana andNaval Station Norfolk Chambers Field.[3] As of 15 October 2012 the airfield was reopened.
At the end of June 2014 the Chesapeake City Council voted unanimously to use city and state funds, who plan to put up about $1 million each, to buy property near the Fentress Naval airport in order to prevent encroachment onto the airfield.[4] This is similar to a program ofVirginia Beach, Virginia and the state of Virginia regardingNaval Air Station Oceana.[4]