• David Tewes •
• Originally published January 14, 2009 at 11:58 p.m., updated January 14, 2009 at 11:58 p.m.

Three former military bases in the Victoria area are being eyed by the Navy for auxiliary airports for training operations.

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is changing to a different trainer that will require longer runways than those available at its existing auxiliary fields.

Victoria, Goliad and Beeville have airports that once belonged to the military and meet the Navy's runway requirements.

Goliad's airport near Berclair was an auxiliary field for Chase Field Beeville before the Navy shut down its operation there in 1991. The Navy gave the airfield to Goliad County.

Harold Gleinser, Goliad's county judge, said the Navy has been using the airport for several years for training pilots. He said the commissioners court is considering whether to sell the property back to the Navy.

The Navy had up to $750,000 to spend for the purchase of the airfield, he said.

"But, come to find out in the conveyance to us, we could sell it to anyone we wanted to," he said. "The Navy could also bid on it."

The county is seeking an appraisal to determine the value of property and it will be up to the commissioners court to decide what to do next.

Joe Montez, with the Bee Development Authority, said his agency now owns the former Chase Field and it would be up to his board to make any decisions about the Navy's request.

"We're not in the business of trying to make money for the sake of making money," he said. "We're in the business of creating jobs."

Montez said he can't see how the Navy operation would create many, if any, jobs, but his agency will listen to the Navy's pitch.

Only one of the three runways is in operation and it is restricted to private operations for businesses at the airport. More than 240 people work at the airport and Montez expects the operation will double in size over the next two or three years.

Victoria Regional Airport, which used to be Foster Field, is the only airfield in the region with an air traffic control tower.

The same type of trainers Corpus Christi will begin using have already landed at Victoria with no problems, said Jack Lill, air traffic control manager. They flew in from San Antonio and Wichita Falls.

Victoria has four runways, but only the main one meets the Navy's length requirements for the new trainer. Airport Manager Larry Blackwell said student pilots from Corpus Christi have been using Victoria's airport, so the switch to the new trainers won't make much difference.

"We're excited about the opportunity to facilitate their training," he said.

• Naval Air Station Corpus Christi plans to switch training aircraft from the aging fleet of T-34s to T-6A Texan II's, which fly farther, faster and have newer technology.

  The problem is that they require runways at least 5,000 feet ...

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Naval Air Station Corpus Christi plans to switch training aircraft from the aging fleet of T-34s to T-6A Texan II's, which fly farther, faster and have newer technology.

The problem is that they require runways at least 5,000 feet long. It would cost $14 million to extend the airfield at Navy Outlying Field Waldron in Corpus Christi, prompting the search for other airfields.

Victoria Regional Airport's main runway is 9,100 feet long. The other three are shorter than the Navy's requirement.

Goliad's airport has two runways that are 8,000 feet long, but only one is open.

Beeville has three 8,000-foot runways. Only one is open.

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