By LEIGH KREIMEIER
Stuttgart Daily Leader
Stuttgart Municipal Airport has seen some friendly military action flying above the area lately since Little Rock Air Force Base has chosen the airport as the spot to do some military training.
The C130s — models E, H and new largest model J — will be seen trying random approaches, different military maneuvers and flight training in general at the airport, according to Carl Humphries, Stuttgart Municipal Airport manager.
“For the past several weeks, they have been doing night stuff while we are not here,” Humphries said.
The reason for choosing the smaller airport is the lengths of the runways and availability for instrument approaches for flight training.
“It is closer to home and it saves on fuel,” he explained.
According to Humphries, the airport could see more military fuel sales in the future, which brings in money for the local airport because of the exercises.
The public is invited to watch the training, although a schedule has not been announced.
As the training progresses, Humphries said, LRAFB will send out 48-hour notices for spectators.
Training is scheduled late at night Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and randomly during the day.
The Stuttgart Fire Department will see extra training because of the exercises.
“It will be hands-on training on how to handle an aircraft crash,” SFD Chief J.P. Jordan said.
“Their mission is using the runway at Stuttgart to practice, and our mission as the city fire department is to assist them,” the chief explained.
LRAFB will bring a crash truck, Jordan said, and SFD will supply crews with water. The flights will let the department practice how to handle airplane crashes at the airport.
“Thankfully that is something we don’t see a lot of,” Jordan said.
The news was broken at the recent Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours held at the airport, when Humphries asked the base to provide tours of the planes and information about the base mission.
LRAFB is the home of combat airlift.
The 314th Airlift Wing is the host unit, which reports to Air Education and Training Command.
Two major associate units, the 463rd Airlift Group and the Air Force Mobility Weapons School, report to Air Mobility Command.
Additionally, the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard is located there. The 189th AW also reports to Air Education and Training Command.
