Beaufort to study new landing field for Marines

[USMCRET6391]

Associated Press

BEAUFORT, S.C. - A military committee has hired a company to study possible sites for a new landing field for Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.

The study by Arcadis G&M, of Jacksonville, Fla., will review the practicality and expense of transforming each of five sites within 80 miles of the air station into a satellite airfield, said John Payne, chairman of the Military Affairs Committee.

The committee was created by the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce to help protect area military facilities from last year's round of base closings.

The study would be discussed with affected communities before it is made public, Payne said.

An outlying landing field would provide a more isolated area for drills, reducing the number of the loudest drills over northern Beaufort County, which would protect the base from noise complaints, Payne said.

The air station doesn't have enough traffic to need an additional field now, said Col. Robert Lanham, commanding officer.