Florida Today (Brevard County, FL) March 20, 2003
Few changes seen at Patrick Air Force Base
By Kelly Young
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE -- While the country is at war and troops are shipping out, there is not much of a perceptible difference in the number of airplanes flying in and out of Patrick Air Force Base.
As has been the case since the Sept. 11 attacks, the military is staying mum about its activity on the Space Coast.
"We're not going to talk specifics," said Patrick spokesman Lt. Col. Mike Rein. "This is a very busy time for America's military everywhere."
Local law enforcement officials escort the military convoys off-base when requested. But there hasn't been any increase in that activity lately, county law enforcement officials said.
"I have not noticed any real significance in air traffic," said Brevard County deputy sheriff Bob Sarver. "If it had been, it would purely be a military matter."
The 45th Space Wing, headquartered at Patrick, has been gearing up for a series of three important satellite launches for both NASA and the military. That includes a global positioning system and a communications satellite for the Defense Department.
"Unless they're getting ready to do a launch, another satellite launch, there shouldn't really be any additional movement," said Patrick Garrett, an associate analyst at globalsecurity.org, a military policy analyzing organization based in Washington.
Some area residents have reported and inquired about what they believe to be increased flights into and out of Patrick's coastal air strip, but the Air Force did not comment and experts expressed doubt about whether it is anything relevant to the current war effort.
Military pilots from across the United States regularly use the Patrick strip during routine training flights, keeping up their hours of training flight time by making trips between military installations.
Patrick sometimes gets busier in the winter because of its good weather.
Other times, what may seem like a parade of transport planes landing and taking off at the base could be simply one plane practicing such operations.
Rein would not comment on air activity. Information for this story was contributed by John Kelly.
GRAPHIC: FLORIDA TODAY file photo; An HC-130 is prepared for departure from Patrick Air Force Base. The plane is an extended-range, combat search and rescue version of the C-130 Hercules transport. Its mission is to extend the range of combat search and rescue helicopters by providing air refueling.
Copyright © 2003, FLORIDA TODAY (Brevard County, FL)
