THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 20, 1996 TAG: 9604200006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines
Wednesday's crash of a Navy F-14B Tomcat at Oceana NAS in Virginia Beach sent a collective chill down the spines of nearby residents - followed by a sigh of relief. Had the jet gone down a short distance to the west, there could have been a disaster in the Magic Hollow neighborhood.
The fact that a catastrophe was averted is due in no small part to the skill of the pilot who crashed the faltering jet onto the base itself.
But this accident should serve as a reminder to Virginia Beach residents that while Oceana is a vital part of the city, giving the air station a wide berth is prudent.
In the past the city allowed development adjacent to the base despite pleas from the Navy for the city to keep its distance. In recent years, however, City Council has been more cooperative and has restricted development in the crash zone. A decision to move Seatack and Linkhorn Park Elementary Schools out of danger - at a cost of $20 million - was smart and should be completed as soon as possible.
Make no mistake, Virginia Beach needs Oceana. It also needs to be a safe place to live. With careful planning the two need not be exclusive of each other.
by CNB