UPDATE (October 13, 2022): The South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing will be extending their flight training operations at CAE for several weeks. Unanticipated conditions during the demolition of the existing runway at McEntire Joint National Guard Base created additional work which dictated more time required to finish the project.
“We appreciate the overwhelming support we have received from Columbia Metropolitan Airport as well as all our community partners. We are grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding as we strive to move our jets from CAE and back to McEntire as soon as it’s feasible.” -Col. Quaid Quadri, 169th Fighter Wing Commander
The South Carolina Air National Guard (SCANG) and Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) have partnered for a temporary relocation operation of F-16s from McEntire Joint National Guard Base (McEntire) to CAE for six months, beginning April 2022 and concluding at the end of October 2022. This relocation operation – which will not impact daily commercial flights taking off and landing at CAE – is due to runway renovations and improvements at McEntire.
About the SCANG and McEntire
McEntire is a 2,400-acre base located in Eastover S.C., about 30 minutes from CAE. It consists of nearly 1,500 Airmen who work and drill at the base during the week and on regularly scheduled drill weekends. McEntire also hosts elements of the South Carolina Army National Guard including rotary wing and heavy vehicle maintenance.
The primary unit of the SCANG is the 169th Fighter Wing (169FW) – also known as the Swamp Foxes – which provides combatant commanders world-class combat capabilities. The mission of the 169FW is to maintain wartime readiness and the ability to mobilize and deploy expeditiously to carry out tactical air missions or combat support activities in the event of a war or military emergency. More specifically, the wing specializes in the Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses. The SCANG operates as part of the Total Force of the U.S. military and is fully integrated with the active-duty Air Force to perform its military mission. The SCANG’s state mission is to respond to the call of the Governor of South Carolina in the event of natural disaster or domestic disturbance.
About the F-16 at CAE
The 169FW flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a single-seat, multi-purpose fighter jet with the ability to fly up to twice the speed of sound. It is capable of performing air-to-air and air-to-ground tactical missions. The 169FW currently flies the F-16C/Block 52, which is the newest and most advanced F-16 in the U.S. Air Force.
To learn more about the SCANG and the 169FW, visit their website here.
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Frequent Asked Questions
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Comment or Concerns?
If you have additional questions about this partnership and operation, or would like to express any concerns, please reach out to Columbia Metropolitan Airport by email at info@flycae.com or to the South Carolina Air National Guard by email at 169.FW.Public.Affairs.org@us.af.mil