Al Asad Airbase
IATA: none – ICAO: ORAA / KQAJ – LID: MAA
Summary
Airport type		Military: Airbase
Operator		United States Air Force
Location		Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Elevation AMSL		618 ft / 188 m
Coordinates		33°47′08.19″N 42°26′28.32″E / 33.7856083°N 42.4412°E / 33.7856083; 42.4412Coordinates: 33°47′08.19″N 42°26′28.32″E / 33.7856083°N 42.4412°E / 33.7856083; 42.4412
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
09R/27L	13,123	4,000	Asphalt
09L/27R	13,124	4,000	Asphalt
08/26 Dirt	10,125	3,086	Packed Dirt
no ILS

Al Asad Airbase (ICAO: ORAA / KQAJ) is the second largest US military airbase in Iraq and is located in the largely Sunni western Iraq Province of Al Anbar. It was formerly the home of the II Marine Expeditionary Force until January 2010. Other major tenants include the 82nd Airborne Advise & Assist Brigade, 321st Sustainment Brigade (-), VOD-1, VAQ-142, Navy Customs Battalion Juliet and elements of the Iraqi Army's 7th Division and United States Air Force.

Geography

Graphic depiction of Al Asad's location

The base, located 100 miles west of Baghdad, is divided by a wadi that runs through the area. It has a perimeter of more than 15 miles, and is the second largest air force base in Iraq. It has 23 hardened shelters and two runways of 4260 and 3955 meters each. The runways, taxiways, tarmacs, hangars, and maintenance areas are on the southern half of the base, while living quarters, motor pools, and administrative areas are in the natural valley formed by the dry river bed. A number of abandoned Iraqi aircraft are scattered throughout the base, in various states of disrepair, as well as hardened bunkers meant to house them.

The oasis located on the base is mistakenly known as "Abraham's Well", and is purported to have been a stopping during the journey of Abraham recounted in the Book of Genesis. Abraham's well, Mamre, is actually in ancient Canaan.

History

Al Asad was formerly an Iraqi Air Force Airbase, then known as Qadisiyah Airbase. In Arabic, Al Asad means the "The Lion". It was quickly abandoned during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Prior to the American invasion, it housed three units of the Iraqi Air Force which flew MiG-25s and MiG-21s.

Airbase after 2003

The base was initially secured by the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and was turned over to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in May 2003. 3rd ACR was relieved by the Marines of the I Marine Expeditionary Force in March 2004. Al Asad has become the largest Coalition base in western Iraq and the equivalent of Baghdad's Green Zone out west.

Al Asad is a major convoy hub, hosting hundreds of fuel and supply trucks every day. Huge shipments of fuel are commonly run along the dangerous routes coming out of Jordan and, despite insurgent attempts, a majority of these convoys arrive at their destinations untouched.

Like other large bases in Iraq, Al Asad offers amenities including an indoor swimming pool, movie theater, post office, Morale, Welfare and Recreation center, several gyms, Post Exchange, Burger King, Cinnabon, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Subway Restaurant, and a Green Beans Coffee Shop. The base is self-sufficient for producing drinking water, having both a reverse osmosis water purification plant and a bottling plant. Most of the housing on base are 'cans', shipping containers converted to, or manufactured as, living areas. Some of the original barracks still remain, however, and are used as well. Overflow tents are used when required, such as transition periods, which can nearly double the number of troops on the base. The base is a common destination for celebrities and politicians visiting American troops in Iraq. Some past visitors include Chuck Norris and Toby Keith. While the towns and routes near Al Asad are as dangerous as anywhere else in Iraq, it is relatively remote and is easily accessible by air.

The controversial song Hadji Girl was recorded on Al Asad in 2005. On September 3, 2007, President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace visited Al Asad and spent Labor Day with the Servicemembers deployed to the base. Also in September 2007, V-22 Ospreys from VMM-263 landed at Al Asad Airfield, the first combat missions of the aircraft.

As Marines withdraw from Iraq, Al Asad remains one of the last American occupied bases in Al Anbar. As of 2009, Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force are removing gear and personnel from the base.

Images

The content above was published at Airports-Worldwide.com in 2010.
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