Coleman Army Airfield
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Coleman Barracks Army Airfield, Coleman AAF (ICAO: ETOR) serves Coleman Barracks in Mannheim, Germany. It is operated and administrated by the United States Army, USAREUR.
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[edit] History
The former Fliegerhorst-Kaserne was built in 1937 as an airfield for the German Air Force. At the beginning of World War II, the fighter squadron "Pik-As" was based here, commanded by one of Germany's top combat pilots, Hans Moelder. In September 1944 a concentration camp was installed on the site by the SS, holding 80 POWs from Poland, Luxemburg and Russia. After World War II, the United States Army took over the barracks in the fall of 1945, giving it the temporary name of "Y-79". Until mid-1949 the area was used as a collecting point for unserviceable automobile material and for surplus storage. In 1951, a replacement depot was established at Coleman Barracks and served as the staging area for all troops arriving in Germany. Its current name commemorates Lieutenant Colonel Wilson D. Coleman.
[edit] Location
The airport is located 8.5 km (5.28 mi) north of the Mannheim city center in the district of Sandhofen, 2.5 km (1.6 mi) east of the river Rhine and 3 km (1.86 mi) south of Lampertheim.
It is surrounded by highways to the south (A6) and the west (B44), the high speed train line to Frankfurt runs 1.6 km (1 mi) to the east.
[edit] Runways
The airport has one paved runway (900 m (2954 ft) x 20 m (67 ft). The runway offers PAPI and illumination. There have been discussions of extending the runway to 1200 metres, but plans were taken back, due to severe protests by nearby residents. The airfield is in use from 06:30 - 23:59 daily. Radar approach is available since June 2002. Coleman is the only U.S. Army airfield in Germany which has its own approach control zone. Coleman provides approach control for several airports throughout the region, both military and civilian: Mannheim City Airport, Flugplatz Speyer, Flugplatz Worms, Heidelberg Airfield and Coleman Airfield
[edit] Buildings
A new, six-storey control tower was built in 2004. Besides airconditioned offices, briefing-rooms, restrooms and an elevator, the tower accommodates the Coleman radar approach control room. The largest helicopter maintenance facility in Europe is placed at Coleman.
[edit] Air Traffic
Being the largest maintenance base for Bell UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters in Europe, Coleman Airfield has more take-offs and landings than any other US Army airfield in Germany. The Coleman Aero Club (CAC) is the only military nonprofit flying organization in Europe. The CAC provides flight training to member forces of NATO, the United States Armed Forces and civilians. It operates a fleet of several US-registred Cessna aircraft.
