Proposes Ørland as new Military Air Base

The Norwegian Armed Forces has proposed that Ørland, in the county of Sør-Trøndelag, should be the new central base for the Norwegian Air Force.

Harald Sunde, Chief of Defence, presented the proposal to the Minister of Defence today, Espen Barth Eide. Evenes and Bodø have also been discussed as alternatives for the new air base, but because Sunde recommended ÿrland, both now seem less likely.

"Ørland could live up to our ambitions, and is in an area without any civilian air traffic." It is also the alternative that requires the smallest financial investment, and it would be possibly to utilize the existing landing strip, Sunde explains.

However, Parliament makes the final decision on where the air base will be placed, and will not present their long-term plan for the Norwegian Defence Forces until the spring of 2012. Still, people in Ørland were very happy with the Defence Chief's proposal.

"This is a big day for our region, not to mention for Ørland and the Bjugn municipality," said the mayor of Bjugn, Arnfinn Austad. "We are happy that the Defence Chief was so clear in his recommendation to the Minister of Decence."

Austad thinks that Bodø and Evenes are not viable alternatives due to the latter’s operational difficulties and extreme weather, while the former comes with a hefty price tag.

Parliament has earlier decided that Norway will buy 56 new fighter jets, of the type F53 Joint Strike Fighter. "F53 is the fighter jet of the future," Sunde said.

The jets would replace the forces’ current fleet of F16s, and would be deployed at the new air base at Ørland. If Parliament chooses to follow his advice that is.

Sunde also assured that in spite of a new air base, the training facilities in Porsanger, the helicopter base and avitation school in Bardufoss and Banak will continue to operate.

(NRK)

Julie Ryland

Friday, 25 November 2011 06:15