NASA to move P3 Aircraft to Langley

NASA plans to move their P3 aircraft from Wallops to Langley.  The move will affect 23 employees.

According to NASA, it is too expensive to keep one plane at Wallops and support staff will be shared at the Langley Facility. NASA said that he runway will stay because of a 10 year contract with the Navy.  Other companies might take over the hanger and buildings. 

The move is part of a NASA wide effort to operate more efficiently due to budget concerns.  The staff was notified Wednesday.  The move will take two years to complete.

The P-3 is considered a “core” platform for the NASA Airborne Science Program. The aircraft can carry instrument payloads consisting of one to several at once while supporting scientific studies all over the globe. The aircraft supports scientific investigations by NASA and visiting scientist from universities, other agencies, and organizations worldwide. Data gathered by the P-3 has been used for scientific studies in ecology, geography, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, atmospheric chemistry, soil science, biology, cryospheric research, and satellite calibration/validation. The P-3 is also used as a technology test bed for new airborne and satellite instrumentation.

Accomack County Administrator Mike Mason said that he got the news release at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon. The Board of Supervisors discussed the move during the public comment portion of Wednesday’s meeting.  Supervisor Donald Hart said that he was troubled that with all of the contact NASA management has with the County Administrator, nothing about this was ever mentioned.  Hart compared the situation with the reduction in services at the Wachapreague Coast Guard Station.  He said that both actions came as a complete surprise.

Supervisor Jeff Parks stated that his action may affect more than just the 23 employees and that he suspects other support operations will also be affected as well.

Supervisor Hart made a motion to ask Mason to write letters to our congressional representatives and the Governor’s office as well objecting to the move.  The motion was passed unanimously.