3.7.
Military Footprint
Several elements are associated with the primary operations at Keesler AFB.
These elements are either tangible, meaning that they are either physically
seen and / or heard, or intangible, meaning that they exist within space
without being seen or heard. One example of a tangible element is noise
associated with aircraft activity; one example of an intangible element is the
flight path taken by an aircraft. A person can see a plane in the sky and see it
moving, but cannot necessarily see the path it has taken or see where it will
continue. These tangible and intangible elements comprise the military
footprint. Oftentimes, the footprint is not contained within the confines of
the military installation; noise, for example, does not stop at the fence line.
The military footprint can potentially affect areas adjacent to or near the
installation. Conversely, activities occurring in communities near or adjacent
to a military installation can potentially affect the military footprint. Elements
associated with the Keesler AFB include:
Runway Class Airspace
Approach and Departure Flight Tracks
Imaginary Surfaces
FAA Part 77 Obstruction Evaluation Area
Existing Military Operations Surface
Aircraft Noise Contours
Aircraft Safety Zones
Bird / Wildlife Air Strike Hazard (BASH)
Maintaining and sustaining these elements plays a significant role in the
long‐term viability of Keesler AFB and continued mission readiness.
Background Report
Footprint Elements Relevant to Keesler Air Force Base Operations
The maximum potential for structure height, noise levels, and aircraft
accidents are three factors that are controlled to the extent practicable
through the following footprint elements:
Runway Class Airspace
Keesler AFB is approximately 11 miles east of Gulfport‐Biloxi International
Airport. This airport is surrounded by and has the authority over the Class D
airspace, which intersects the Class D airspace surrounding and under the
authority of Keesler AFB. There is an area of controlled Class E airspace that
radiates from the Gulfport‐Biloxi International Airport and Keesler AFB over
the Gulf of Mexico extending from the surface to 18,000 feet. Another Class E
airspace surrounds both Keesler AFB and Gulfport‐Biloxi International Airport
and extends from 700 feet above the surface to 18,000 feet. Although
generally circular around the two airports, the airspace has a rectangular area
that juts off of the airspace over the Gulf of Mexico. This extension of the
Class E airspace that is oriented to the Keesler AFB runway and is present to
protect arrival and departure flight tracks. The airspace surrounding the
Keesler AFB airfield is depicted on Figure 3‐3.
Keesler AFB Class D Airspace encompasses an area within a five‐mile radius,
except where it intersects with the Gulfport‐Biloxi International Airport Class
D airspace, of the center of the airfield that extends upward to 2,500 feet
mean sea level (MSL). Use of Class D airspace requires the use of two‐way
communication with Air Traffic Control, which must be established prior to
entering Class D airspace. No transponder is required. A transponder is an
electronic devise that responds to a radio‐frequency interrogating. This is
used by air traffic control (ATC) to identify aircraft on a radar scope. Aircraft
flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in Class D airspace must have three miles
of visibility, and fly at an altitude at least 500 feet below, 1,000 feet above,
and 2,000 feet laterally from clouds.
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