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Fulda Army Airfield |
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| History | |||
 Fulda Army Airfield, early 1960s (Roger Beverage) |
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 Fulda Army Airfield, early 1960s (Roger Beverage) |
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| 1980 | |||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 18, 1980) | |||
| After a two-year legal battle with local German citizens' groups who tried to stop the renovation project (out of fear of an increase in noise pollution and lowering property values), German courts gave the US Army the go ahead to modernize the Fulda Army Airfield at Sickels. The airfield was constructed in 1936 and is currently used by the 11th Armd Cav Regt. Helicopter crews of the 11th ACR fly patrol surveillance missions along the East - West German border on a daily basis. There are 350 military personnel stationed at the airfield. Many of the buildings at the airfield are in bad shape - some having been condemned by Army engineering officials. The Army has been forced to use several makeshift structures by converting storage containers into workshops and turning junked Army busses into offices for maintenance personel working at the airfield. Portable vehicle maintenance tents have been set up and are being used as hangars. (Maintenance for all 11th ACR aircraft is performed at the Sickels Airfield.) The bulk of the renovation plans entail general facility improvements - to bring the airfield up to acceptable standards, including runway, taxiway and other airfield surface renovations. Plans also call for the total reconstruction of several operations, maintenance and administration structures and the construction of a 250-man troop barracks. (A new tower and hangar facilities will also be constructed.) Work on the project is expected to begin in late August or early September. |
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 Fulda Army Airfield, mid-1980s (Rick Johnson, 295th Avn Co) |
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 One of the two last helicopters to leave Sickels AAF, December 1993 |
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| 1993 | |||
| (Source: BLACKHAWK, December 23 1993, p. 1) | |||
| The last two UH-60 Blackhawks left Sickels Airfield on December 15 at 0945. The helicopters, from Stetson Troop, were piloted by Capt. Robert Hastings, CW4 Mike Halby, CW3 Jim Garst and CW2 Vince Arnold. Spec. Nava and Spec. Fluellen acted as crew chiefs for the flight. At the beginning of the drawdown, Stetson Troop had 22 UH-60's, making it the largest Aviation Troop in the U.S. Army. By the 1st of October, the Troop was down to its last two helicopters, which were kept to support the Regimental Command. Capt. Hastings, S-Troop Commander, credits the maintenance personnel and crew chiefs for the timely and problem-free transfer of the Stetson Troop vehicles and equipment. At the time of the last flight of 4/11 ACR, 13 enlisted men and the last four pilots remained from a troop that numbered 78 at the time of the drawdown notice. Stetson Troop ceased operations as a Troop on December 17. |
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| Fulda Air Traffic Control Detachment | |||
| 1989 | |||
| (Source: BLACKHAWK, Jan-Mar, 1989 p. 9) | |||
| Fulda tower wind facility of the year On 8 December 1988 the Commander of the United States Army Aviation Center, Fort Rucker, Maj. Gen. Ellis D. Parker, and the Director of the United States Army Air Traffic Control Activity, Col. Melvin J. McLemore, presented the annual Air Traffic Control (ATC) Awards during the Army Aviation Association of America, Aviation Center Chapter's Annual Awards Banquet. Of the 5 categories competed for worldwide by the soldiers and civilian employees from the Active Army, National Guard, and Army Reserve, the soldiers and local national employees from the Fulda ATC Detachment of A Company, 3rd ATC Battalion, 58th Aviation Regiment, were selected for 2 categories. The Fulda ATC Detachment is assigned to Fulda Army Airfield with the mission to provide a fully instrumented fixed base Air Traffic Control Service consisting of operating and maintaining a Control Tower and Ground Controlled Approach Facility and associated Navigation Aids. Additionally the mission includes the responsibility to maintain the ATC equipment in support of Carlisle Radio, located at Wasserkuppe, all of which is in support of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. The 1988 Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year Award was presented to Fulda Tower for contributing greatly to safe and efficient air traffic control. Areas of consideration included outstanding service recognized by supported units; safe and efficient handling of unusual traffic overloads or emergencies; notable contributions to safety, procedures, systems. concept/development; and outstanding community activities support. The award was received by Staff Sergeant Perry Hague representing Fulda Tower. The other personnel of Fulda Tower include: the ATC Chief, SFC Larry Presnell, the Tower Chief, SFC Eddie Plaza, and controllers, SSgt. Kenneth Rupp, SSgt. Gearl Mason, SSgt. John Dias, Sgt. Joel Vanhoolandt, Sgt. Arnold Seild, Sgt. Rodney Meeks, Mr. Harmut Roder, Mr. Helmut Dette, and Mr. Burkhard Deadlow. The 1988 Air Traffic Control Maintenance Technician of the Year Award was presented to Sergeant Seven Haag who has contributed greatly to ground systems maintenance and displayed outstanding technical competence while actually maintaining ground systems during the past year. The maintenance technican is judged on procedures introduced and accepted which have improved operations, maintenance, efficiency, and safety. The Fulda Detachment, consisting of 59 Soldiers, Local National Employees, and their families, are bound by one philosophy, and that is to be Team Players while doing their best to compliment the overall success of the 4th Squadron and the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. |
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| Related Links: |
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incl. Avn Co, 11th ACR