AF Plant 42 AICUZ Study - Feb. 2012 - Edwards Air Force Base

not developed. With respect to military and general aviation, nearby
airfields include Edwards AFB (19 nautical miles [nm] northeast);
Rosamond (15 nm north); General William Fox (9 nm northwest),
and Aqua Dulce Airpark (14 nm southwest).
2.2 Plant 42 Airfield Infrastructure
The base has approximately 5,800 acres of property, with a runway
complex consisting of two runways (4/22 and 7/25), parallel and
intersecting taxiways, and several ramp areas for aircraft parking. The
airfield elevation is 2,543 feet above mean sea level (MSL). Runway
4/22 is 12,001 feet long by 150 feet wide and is oriented along a
northeast-southwest axis; runway 7/25 is 12,002 feet long by 200 feet
wide and is oriented along an east-west axis. Operations
predominantly occur from east to west along Runway 25 although
there is some seasonal variation when winds favor different runways.
In addition to the intersecting runways, a portion of one of the parallel
taxiways is designed to accommodate short field takeoffs and
landings, simulating an assault strip for training purposes. Standard
airfield lighting and ground based navigation transmitters associated
with instrument landing systems allow approaches during periods of
low cloud ceilings or visibility; additionally, a ground based
transmitter for en route civil and military navigation (very high
frequency omnirange, tactical air navigation [VORTAC]) providing
distance and bearing to/from the station is located on the airfield.
Finally, with the advent of global positioning system (GPS)
technology, departure and approach procedures that do not rely upon
terrestrial based transmitters have been developed and serve Plant 42.
Intersecting taxiways connect the runways to the aircraft parking
areas, allowing for assigned aircraft to taxi to their respective ramps
and hangers. Several tenant contractors (aircraft manufacturers) and
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have
significant hangar facilities and direct taxiway access; these
corporations and agencies either own or lease facilities on or near the
installation. Aircraft maintenance and static engine runs occur at their
respective parking areas, at the ends of the runways, or in test cells or
hush houses located at some of the tenant facilities (Figure 2-2).
The airfield at Plant 42 lies within controlled airspace, specifically the
Class D airspace associated with the air traffic control (ATC)
The term “National Airspace
System” (NAS) refers to a
complex network of air
navigation facilities, air traffic
control facilities, airports,
technology, and appropriate
rules and regulations. Aircraft
operate within the NAS (and
become subject to Federal
Aviation Regulations) once they
begin taxiing from their
parking space with the intent to
takeoff.
2-4