Coast Guard Air Station Washington

Coast Guard Air Station Washington (CGAS Washington) is a United States Coast Guard Air Station in Crystal City, in Arlington County, Virginia. Located at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia, the air station supports NORAD air defense missions in and around the Washington metropolitan area and its Special Flight Rules Area, provides executive transportation for the Commandant of the Coast Guard and Secretary of Homeland Security, and carries out regional Continuity of Government tasking as directed.

Operated by rotating staff drawn from a pool of 60 aviators and 175 enlisted members permanently assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, aviators of CGAS Washington operate Eurocopter MH-65D Dolphin helicopters and Gulfstream C-37B business jets. The air station is located across the Potomac River from Coast Guard Station Washington.

20th century
The station was established as Air Detachment Arlington in 1952. It operated Martin 4-0-4s, a VC-4A (Grumman Gulfstream I), and a VC-11A, (Gulfstream II) aircraft. In 1964 the unit was redesignated Coast Guard Air Station Arlington and 10 years later, in 1974, Air Station Arlington changed its name to Air Station Washington in recognition of its location at Washington National Airport.

In 1994, Air Station Washington began single aircraft operation and accepted a C-20B Gulfstream III from the Air Force to replace the aging VC-4A and VC11A. The C-20B's range advantage brought the capability to operate as a Long Range Command and Control Aircraft (LRCCA). On 11 May 2002, Air Station Washington accepted a C-37A Gulfstream V aircraft as its sole aircraft.

21st century
In 2005, operations with two aircraft resumed as the Coast Guard leased a Bombardier Challenger 604, designated as C-143, to operate as a Medium Range Command and Control Aircraft (MRCCA). As the lease for the Challenger 604 came to close in October 2011, a second Gulfstream V (C-37A) was leased and designated as CG02.

Rotary Wing Air Intercept mission
Since taking over the role from United States Customs and Border Protection September 25, 2006, Coast Guard personnel from CGAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, have been rotating into the National Capital Region Air Defense Facility (NCRADF) at CGAS Washington to perform the Rotary Wing Air Intercept mission to visually identify low flying, slow-moving targets that have entered into restricted airspace. Under the operational control of NORAD as part of Operation Noble Eagle, aircrews defend the 30 nmi air defense identification zone around the capital known as the Washington, D.C. special flight rules area. The MH-65E Dolphin helicopters used have a digital signboard to transmit instructions to errant pilots, and are armed with M240 machine guns and anti-material rifles inboard.

Executive transportation
As of 2020, the air station has two Gulfstream C-37 aircraft assigned. The C-37, built off the Gulfstream G550, provides the Commandant, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other required-use passengers with nonstop intercontinental transportation capabilities while maintaining long range command and control functionality. An array of communications equipment permits the Commandant to command from the aircraft as efficiently as from headquarters.

Aircraft assigned

 * United States Coast Guard
 * Gulfstream C-37B
 * Eurocopter MH-65E Dolphin