Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station CGAS (ECG/KECG) is a US Coast Guard USCG station in the northeast of North Carolina. The airfield was opened in 1940 and is home to USCG C130s and Sikorsky HH60s plus you will sometimes see more military aircraft stopping by here. Moreover, the airport also has some general aviation located in the northwest.

Be sure to also visit the three beautifully preserved gate guards in the west: one Sikorsky HU22, one Dassault HU25 and one Grumman HU16

ECG-Gate

ECG-Gate

ECG-Gate

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Joe Waxman and Phenom188. Last Update: 2023

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
01/19	1377m / 4518ft
10/28	2200m / 7219ft
Spotting Information
Ladder	We recommend to quickly shoot thru the mesh or from the car’s top.
Car/Public Transport	A car is definitely needed to get around the airfield and reach the spots.
Drinks/Food	Nothing around the airfield, but some in Elizabeth City itsself.
Hotels	No spotter hotels around.
Season	No season in terms of way more traffic, but around bank holidays (christmas, easter, …) traffic may be a bit quieter.
Security	Remember that this is a US base! Always try to keep a low profile (stow your camera at all times e.g.) and be aware of law enforcement. Police and military security forces are uneasy of photographers around the base and it is very possible you will be asked to leave. In addition, always keep an ID with you in case you are getting checked: stay friendly, simply explain what you do here and cooperate… Mostly if you just say you are watching planes (and try to not have your camera next to you), they will leave you alone and tell you not to make any pictures. But sometimes they do also run license plate checks, wanna see the pictures on your SD or they will even make you delete shots, so plan on either having throwaway shots or download shots to another device while spotting to be safe.?????
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 10/28 is in use most of the time and most of the time into 10 direction.

	Spot #1 – County Waste Centre – Helicopter hover area
WHERE	This spot is located inside the parking of Ocean Breeze Aviation: just turn in and search your favourite spot along the fence front.
WHAT	US military helicopters often use the old runway 1/19 for hovering training and will land just in front of you here.
TIME	Best in the afternoon.
MISC.	Haze is a huge issue on hot days. Nothing around here like shops. Try to shoot thru the mesh or from your car’s top quickly to clear the fence. But keep a low profile not to draw to much attention as quite a few cars are passing by here!
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm CH47 = 180mm / Viper = 160mm

ECG-Spot1

ECG-Spot1

	Spot #2 – Ocean Breeze Parking – Ramp
WHERE	This spot is located inside the parking of Ocean Breeze Aviation: just turn in and search your favourite spot along the fence front.
WHAT	From here you can see the ramp in front plus the taxiways and runways in the distance.
TIME	Morning and noon is best here.
MISC.	Haze is a huge issue towards the runway. Nothing around here like shops. Try to shoot thru the mesh or from your car’s top quickly to clear the fence. But keep a low profile not to draw to much attention as this is Ocean Breeze property!
FOCAL LENGTH	24-400mm Old C130 parked in front = 90mm

ECG-Spot2

ECG-Spot2

	Spot #3 – Consolidated Rd – Taxiway
WHERE	Simply along Consolidated Rd up northeast towards the gate. Just pullover or park your car nearby and take your shots along the fence here…
WHAT	The taxiways in front and the runway in the distance.
TIME	From noon till sunset.
MISC.	Try to shoot thru the mesh or from your car’s top quickly to clear the fence. Keep a low profile not to draw to much attention by USCG personnel who passes by here on the street. Quickly come, take your shot and leave again!
FOCAL LENGTH	24-300mm C130H = 40mm

ECG-Spot3