| Coast Guard Air Station Washington | |
| Partof: | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport |
| Location: | Arlington County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Country: | the United States |
| Ownership: | United States Department of Transportation |
| Operator: | Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority/ United States Coast Guard |
| Controlledby: | Coast Guard District 5, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region |
| Open To Public: | No |
| Used: | 1952–present |
Coast Guard Air Station Washington (CGAS Washington) is a United States Coast Guard Air Station in Crystal City, in Arlington County, Virginia. Located at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia, the air station supports NORAD air defense missions in and around the Washington metropolitan area and its Special Flight Rules Area, provides executive transportation for the Commandant of the Coast Guard and Secretary of Homeland Security, and carries out regional Continuity of Government tasking as directed.
Operated by rotating staff drawn from a pool of 60 aviators and 175 enlisted members permanently assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, aviators of CGAS Washington operate Eurocopter MH-65D Dolphin helicopters and Gulfstream C-37B business jets. The air station is located across the Potomac River from Coast Guard Station Washington.
The station was established as Air Detachment Arlington in 1952. It operated Martin 4-0-4s, a VC-4A (Grumman Gulfstream I), and a VC-11A, (Gulfstream II) aircraft. In 1964 the unit was redesignated Coast Guard Air Station Arlington and 10 years later, in 1974, Air Station Arlington changed its name to Air Station Washington in recognition of its location at Washington National Airport.
In 1994, Air Station Washington began single aircraft operation and accepted a C-20B Gulfstream III from the Air Force to replace the aging VC-4A and VC11A. The C-20B's range advantage brought the capability to operate as a Long Range Command and Control Aircraft (LRCCA). On 11 May 2002, Air Station Washington accepted a C-37A Gulfstream V aircraft as its sole aircraft.[1] [2]
In 2005, operations with two aircraft resumed as the Coast Guard leased a Bombardier Challenger 604, designated as C-143, to operate as a Medium Range Command and Control Aircraft (MRCCA). As the lease for the Challenger 604 came to close in October 2011, a second Gulfstream V (C-37A) was leased and designated as CG02.
Since taking over the role from United States Customs and Border Protection September 25, 2006, Coast Guard personnel from CGAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, have been rotating into the National Capital Region Air Defense Facility (NCRADF) at CGAS Washington to perform the Rotary Wing Air Intercept mission to visually identify low flying, slow-moving targets that have entered into restricted airspace.[3] [4] Under the operational control of NORAD as part of Operation Noble Eagle, aircrews defend the 30nmi air defense identification zone around the capital known as the Washington, D.C. special flight rules area.[5] [6] The MH-65E Dolphin helicopters used have a digital signboard to transmit instructions to errant pilots, and are armed with M240 machine guns and anti-material rifles inboard.[7] [8]
As of 2020, the air station has two Gulfstream C-37 aircraft assigned.[9] The C-37, built off the Gulfstream G550, provides the Commandant, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other required-use passengers with nonstop intercontinental transportation capabilities while maintaining long range command and control functionality. An array of communications equipment permits the Commandant to command from the aircraft as efficiently as from headquarters.