Naval Air Station New Iberia
Encyclopedia
The Naval Air Station New Iberia, located near New Iberia, Louisiana
, was a short-lived training facility of the United States Navy
which operated for a mere five years in the 1960s.
selected the airport for development as a naval air station.
Due to the runway length requirements of naval jet aircraft, a total of 4,000 acres were purchased by the Federal Government and an 8,002-foot concrete runway, 16/34, was constructed. Commissioned in 1960, Naval Auxiliary Air Station New Iberia was located on US-90 just outside of New Iberia and covered an area of 4,347 acres of land and had an elevation of 24 feet. With its opening, the Advanced Training Unit-B engaged in anti-submarine training operating Grumman TS-2A Trackers was moved from Naval Air Station Kingsville
South Field, Kingsville, Texas
and redesignated VT-27
.
Approximately 1,000 military personnel and 100 civilian workers were stationed here in 1964, including the VT-27
. The Naval Air Station at New Iberia continued to function until 1964 when the military abandoned the facility. On 29 September 1964, VT-27 transferred to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
, Texas, with the squadron instructor pilots flying out the TS-2 Trackers. NAS New Iberia was closed in January 1965.
Upon the closure of the naval field, the Iberia Parish governing body petitioned the U.S. government for release of 2,100 acres of air station property for civil aviation use. The petition was granted in 1970 and the airport was given its present name, Acadiana Regional Airport
. The Acadiana Regional Airport is presently classified as a General Aviation Transport airport by the FAA. By definition, the airport is capable of serving all classes of aircraft.
A variety of aviation-related businesses are located at the airport. Numerous helicopters and seaplanes utilize the airport in support of the offshore petroleum industry in the Gulf of Mexico
. Commercial passenger service is provided by a number of charter operators at the airport.
New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia is a city in and the parish seat of Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, 30 miles southeast of Lafayette. In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747...
, was a short-lived training facility of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
which operated for a mere five years in the 1960s.
History
The site of NAS New Iberia had served as a civil airport between 1946 and 1954. In 1954 the Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
selected the airport for development as a naval air station.
Due to the runway length requirements of naval jet aircraft, a total of 4,000 acres were purchased by the Federal Government and an 8,002-foot concrete runway, 16/34, was constructed. Commissioned in 1960, Naval Auxiliary Air Station New Iberia was located on US-90 just outside of New Iberia and covered an area of 4,347 acres of land and had an elevation of 24 feet. With its opening, the Advanced Training Unit-B engaged in anti-submarine training operating Grumman TS-2A Trackers was moved from Naval Air Station Kingsville
Naval Air Station Kingsville
Naval Air Station Kingsville or NAS Kingsville is a military airport located 3 miles east of Kingsville, Texas.Under the current US Navy organization known as Commander, Naval Installations , NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Kingsville are part of Navy Region Southeast headquartered at NAS Jacksonville,...
South Field, Kingsville, Texas
Kingsville, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,575 people, 8,943 households, and 6,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,848.8 people per square mile . There were 10,427 housing units at an average density of 753.8 per square mile...
and redesignated VT-27
VT-27
VT-27 is a Primary training squadron of the United States Navy.Training Squadron 27 was initially established on July 11, 1951 as Advanced Training Unit-B at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi. The command moved to Naval Air Station, Kingsville in 1952 and again to Naval Air Station, New Iberia,...
.
Approximately 1,000 military personnel and 100 civilian workers were stationed here in 1964, including the VT-27
VT-27
VT-27 is a Primary training squadron of the United States Navy.Training Squadron 27 was initially established on July 11, 1951 as Advanced Training Unit-B at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi. The command moved to Naval Air Station, Kingsville in 1952 and again to Naval Air Station, New Iberia,...
. The Naval Air Station at New Iberia continued to function until 1964 when the military abandoned the facility. On 29 September 1964, VT-27 transferred to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi , also known as Truax Field, is a naval base located six miles southeast of the central business district of Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, Texas, USA.-History:...
, Texas, with the squadron instructor pilots flying out the TS-2 Trackers. NAS New Iberia was closed in January 1965.
Upon the closure of the naval field, the Iberia Parish governing body petitioned the U.S. government for release of 2,100 acres of air station property for civil aviation use. The petition was granted in 1970 and the airport was given its present name, Acadiana Regional Airport
Acadiana Regional Airport
Acadiana Regional Airport is a public use airport in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by Iberia Parish and is located four nautical miles northwest of the central business district of New Iberia, Louisiana...
. The Acadiana Regional Airport is presently classified as a General Aviation Transport airport by the FAA. By definition, the airport is capable of serving all classes of aircraft.
A variety of aviation-related businesses are located at the airport. Numerous helicopters and seaplanes utilize the airport in support of the offshore petroleum industry in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. Commercial passenger service is provided by a number of charter operators at the airport.