Air Station Clearwater

Air Station Clearwater, located in Clearwater, Florida, is the largest United States Coast Guard air station. Established in 1934 as part of the Coast Guard Air Patrol Detachment, it was initially based at Albert Whitted Airport before moving to its current location at St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport in 1976. The station operates a fleet of HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters, providing search and rescue, law enforcement, and disaster response across the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and southeastern United States. Air Station Clearwater has played a vital role in numerous high-profile missions, including hurricane response operations and migrant interdiction efforts.