NAS JRB Willow Grove
NAS Willow Grove in the 1940s
IATA: NXX – ICAO: KNXX – FAA LID: NXX
Summary
Airport type		Military: Naval Air Station
Owner		United States Navy
Location		Horsham Twp, Pennsylvania
Built		1928
Commander		CAPT David Opatz
Elevation AMSL		335 ft / 109 m
Coordinates		40°11′59″N 75°08′54″W / 40.1998°N 75.1482°W / 40.1998; -75.1482Coordinates: 40°11′59″N 75°08′54″W / 40.1998°N 75.1482°W / 40.1998; -75.1482
Website		cnic.navy.mil/willowgrove/index.htm
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
15/33	8,002	2,439	PEM
Sources: official web site and FAA

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove or NASJRB Willow Grove (IATA: NXX, ICAO: KNXX, FAA LID: NXX) is a Naval Air Station owned by the U.S. Navy and located in Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States four miles (6 km) northwest of the central business district of Willow Grove, which is north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

History

It began in 1926 when Harold Frederick Pitcairn constructed a hangar and a grass airstrip in Horsham, Pennsylvania. The name "Willow Grove" came from the nearest town. At the time, Horsham was a rural township with little significance. From 1926 to 1942 Pitcairn used the airfield for design, construction and testing of a number of aircraft, including the Mailwing which was used by the United States Postal Service.

After the start of World War II, the United States purchased the grounds, and launched a classified anti-submarine warfare program at the base. Following World War II and into the Cold War, it became an operational and training bases for aviation activities of the Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army Reserve and Army National Guard, a duty it continues to this day. As part of its joint recruitment efforts, the base was an annual host to one of the largest air shows on the East Coast thru 2006.

Units

Today Willow Grove is home to the following military aviation units:

• 111th Fighter Wing, an Air Combat Command-gained unit of the Air National Guard operating the A-10 Thunderbolt II;
• 270th EIS; Marine Aircraft Group 49 headquarters and HMH-772 operates the CH-53E Super Stallion and
• Navy Fleet Logistic Squadrons 52 (VR-52) and 64 (VR-64), operating the C-9 Skytrain II and C-130 Hercules, respectively.

Willow Grove is also home to the following:

• The Liberty Bell Squadron of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps and
• Group 3 Headquarters of Pennsylvania Wing Civil Air Patrol.

Base Realignment and Closure

On May 28, 2006, the Base Realignment and Closure commission recommended that this base be closed as part of the 2005 BRAC round, that the tenant Air Force Reserve Command airlift wing be deactivated and that Navy Reserve and Marine Corps Reserve flying units relocate to McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey as tenant units. This may be subject to change by the President of the United States and the United States Congress.

On September 30, 2007, pursuant to direction of BRAC 2005, the Air Force Reserve Command disestablished the 913th Airlift Wing at Willow Grove ARS, redistributing its C-130 Hercules aircraft to other active duty Air Force and Air Force Reserve units.

On February 29, 2008, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania released a report detailing a plan for a joint interagency installation. The installation's mission will be national defense, homeland security and emergency preparedness. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is expected to make a decision on the amount of the existing Navy base the state will seek in the spring of 2008.

NAS JRB Willow Grove will continue supporting its mission through 2010, and final closure will occur by September 2011. The Pennsylvania Air National Guard is expected to take custody, and the facility will be designated Willow Grove Air National Guard Base. Per current law, after NAS/JRB Willow Grove is handed to the state, it will be converted to a JII base and will also be considered a Homeland Security HUB

Currently, the 111th Fighter Wing, operating the A-10 Thunderbolt II, is losing its aircraft to other ANG Squadrons under BRAC; the unit has gone from fifteen A-10s to five at present.

On November 13, 2009, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dropped the plan for the joint interagency installation based on the gradual removal of the 111th Fighter Wing. Future plans for the base include using a portion for the National Guard and reserve troops.

Location & QuickFacts

Owner & Manager

Airport Operations and Facilities

Airport Services

Runway Information

Runway 15/33

Radio Navigation Aids

Remarks

• CAUTION: NUMEROUS CIV ACFT OPR TO/FR 2 CIV ARPT & 6 HELIPORTS WITHIN THE CLASS D AIRSPACE. SIMULTANEOUS COPTER OPR CONDUCTED W OF RWY 15-33 AT AND BLW 1200'. BIRD HAZ SPRING AND FALL. TRAN HVY JET APCH RSTD.
• FUEL: NO FUEL AVBL 0400-1200Z DLY. PRIORITY FUELING ESTAB FOR RESERVE TRNG FRI-SUN. J8
• LGT: OPR SS-0400Z++.
• FLUID: SP PRESAIR; LOX - 24 HR PN RQR 2100-1200Z++.
• OIL: O-133-156
• TFC PAT: RGT TFC RWY 15. OVERHEAD PAT1900'.
• SEE FLIP AP/1 SUPPLEMENTARY ARPT RMK.
• RADAR: SEE TERMINAL FLIP FOR RADAR MINIMA.
• TRAN ALERT: LTD TRAN SVC AVBL DUR NML OPR HR. NO HGR SPACE. NO FLEET SVC AVBL.
• ANG: TRAN ACFT TO ANG CTC DSN 991-1511, C215-443-1511.
• JASU: 9(GTC-85) 12(NC-8) 2(MA-1A) LTD F4 STARTING CAPABILITY.
• NS ABTMT: F/W ACFT CLIMB RWY HDG TO 2000' PRIOR TO ANY TURNS.
• MISC: TRAN ACFT REQ MULTIPLE APCH RSTD TO 1300-0200Z++ MON-SAT; 1700-0200Z++ SUN. ARPT SUBJ TO NO NTC CLOSURE. WX OBSN SVC OPR HR.

Images and information placed above are from
http://www.airport-data.com/airport/NXX/

We thank them for the data!

General Info
Country	United States
State	PENNSYLVANIA
FAA ID	NXX
Latitude	40-12-01.390N
Longitude	075-08-52.622W
Elevation	362 feet
Near City	WILLOW GROVE

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