Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi Explained

Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi
Ensign:File:Ensign_of_the_United_States_Coast_Guard.svg
Location:Corpus Christi, Texas
Country:the United States
Type:Coast Guard Air Station
Pushpin Map:USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States
Pushpin Label:Corpus Christi
Pushpin Label Position:top
Ownership:Department of Homeland Security
Operator:United States Coast Guard
Controlledby:Eighth District
Site Other Label:Aircraft operated
Site Other:MH-65 Dolphin
HC-144 Ocean Sentry
Built: (as Air Detachment)
Used:1950 – present
Condition:Operational
Current Commander:Captain Charles Wilson
Iata:CRP
Icao:KCRP
Faa:CRP
Wmo:722510
Elevation:14m (46feet)
R1-Number:13/31
R1-Length:2289m (7,510feet)
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:18/36
R2-Length:1853.1m (6,079.7feet)
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Footnotes:Airfield shared with Corpus Christi International Airport
Source: Federal Aviation Administration

Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi is an Air Station of the United States Coast Guard located in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Air Station is co-located with Sector Corpus Christi offices at Corpus Christi International Airport .

The Coast Guard Air Detachment was established on 20 November 1950, and served the entire western Gulf of Mexico with one PBY-5 Catalina fixed wing aircraft, and four pilots. In 1965, the detachment was formally designated USCG Air Station Corpus Christi. Early aircraft consisted of HU-16E Albatross, HH-52A Seaguard helicopter, HC-131 Samaritan, and HU-25A fanjets.[1]

Following extensive personnel and equipment changes in the operations department, the Air Station became fully operational on October 15, 1980, and operated as one of thirteen Coast Guard Group units between Port O'Connor, Texas and the Mexican border. The Air Station maintained a 24-hour Search and rescue capability, with the use of three HH-52A helicopters and three HU-25A fanjets.

The unit averages over 400 rescues a year, which included searches for overdue vessels, assisting sinking or disabled boats, and medical evacuations from offshore oil rigs. In the spring of 1986 the station's HH-52s were replaced with the Aérospatiale HH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

Currently, Air Station Corpus Christi operates the MH-65E Dolphin short-range recovery helicopter and the HC-144B Ocean Sentry medium-range surveillance aircraft.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USCG AIR STATION CORPUS CHRISTI . uscg.mil . 28 September 2014 .