Ministry of National Defense changes the use of Goyang Search Airfield to ‘helicopter operation base’

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Cheol-seon = The Ministry of National Defense announced at the Cabinet meeting on the 22nd that it had approved an amendment to the enforcement ordinance of the 'Military Bases and Military Facilities Protection Act', which includes changing the purpose of the search airfield in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do from the existing 'support aviation operation base' to 'helicopter operation base'.

The Ministry of National Defense explained that this revision of the enforcement ordinance was made to rationally adjust the use of the base as there was no need to maintain the search airfield as a support air operation base in consideration of changes in the actual operation type and operational plan of the search airfield.

As the search airfield is changed to a helicopter-only base, 19.8㎢, or 93% of the existing flight safety zone area of ​​21.3㎢, will be released, and 1.5㎢ will be changed to a helicopter-only operation base.

The Ministry of National Defense announced that as the scope of the flight safety zone, which limits the height of buildings, is reduced, the conditions for local residents to exercise their property rights are expected to improve and help promote regional development and urban maintenance projects.

Matters regarding the reduction of the flight safety zone will be announced in the official gazette in accordance with the promulgation of the revised enforcement ordinance on the 29th.