Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph is home to one of the oldest, and busiest, training bases in the Air Force. Here, the Air Force prepares new pilots in the unique aspects of fighter aircraft training over 650 pilots in 2023. It is one of the few training bases in the Air Force that can simultaneously land two aircraft under instrument approach.

Located in one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolitan corridors, the base has faced significant encroachment for over two decades. Its auxiliary airfield, near Seguin, now faces similar pressure from urban development.

Incompatible development around military airfields can negatively impact flight training by restricting sortie rates and allowable times for aircraft operation. By displacing habits, it also increases bird and animal strike risk with aircraft by increasing wildlife populations in open spaces around airfields, creating higher risk to pilot training. Increased residential density around military airfields also increases risks for aircraft ground mishaps and environmental noise exposure to the public.

Once predominantly rural, the area around Seguin Airfield is rapidly urbanizing. CLF is working closely with Joint Base San Antonio to protect this critical training facility. By working with local landowners for conservation around the airfield the effort also provides the opportunity to preserve working lands, open spaces and natural habitat.