Cairns Army Airfield

Cairns Army Airfield is a military airport located at Fort Rucker in Dale County, Alabama, south of Daleville. The facility was established in September 1942 when 1,259 acres were acquired to support training operations for the United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force during World War II. Following the war, the airfield was placed on inactive status until 1952, when it was acquired by the United States Army as part of the Fort Rucker complex. Originally designated as Ozark Army Air Field, it was renamed Cairns Army Air Field in January 1959. The name honors Major General Bogardus Snowden Cairns, who served as the commander of the Aviation Center and Commandant of the Aviation School.

The airfield is owned by the United States Army and functions as part of the Home of Army Aviation. Its mission focuses on initial helicopter flight training for U.S. Army aviators, international military personnel, and civilian students. The installation hosts the 23d Flying Training Squadron, which operates TH-1H aircraft to train United States Air Force pilots.

Infrastructure at Cairns Army Airfield includes two asphalt runways. The facility maintains an average annual traffic count of approximately 240,000 movements. Air traffic control personnel manage between 800 and 1,000 movements on an average day. The airfield supports high-density training cycles, with the capacity to launch between 70 and 120 aircraft during morning and afternoon periods, and up to 60 aircraft during night operations.