Group Activity Futenma and changed again in 1960 to Naval Security Group Hanza. The group decommissioned on Futenma in 1999. Each year, MCAS Futenma opens its gates for the Futenma Flight Line Fair, which includes U.S. band performances, entertainment, static displays of all aircraft, military vehicles and demonstrations. Capability Futenma's 75 m elevation provides a safe and effective location to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the event of a tsunami, which would render the sea-level Naha international airport inoperable . The 9,000 ft. runway also gives the capability of safely landing the largest commercial and military cargo planes in the world, including the Antonov An-124 Ruslan, which has landed at Futenma multiple times. Futenma has a high record of safety with well established procedures. Based units Flying and notable non-flying units based at MCAS Futenma. United States Marine Corps Marine Corps Installations – Pacific Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron – UC-12W Huron and UC-35D Encore Marine Air Control Group 18 Marine Air Control Squadron 4 (MACS-4) Marine Air Support Squadron 2 (MASS-2) Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18 (MTACS-18) Personnel Support Detachment 18 (PSD-18) Marine Aircraft Group 36 Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 (MALS-36) Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron 262 (VMM-262) – MV-22B Osprey Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265) – MV-22B Osprey Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 (MWSS - 172) Community The airbase has become a focal point of various political controversies in recent years. Due to population growth and encroachment around the base, concerns surrounding flights over residential areas causing noise, air pollution and endangering public safety also became controversial issues in Ginowan City, as the airport is surrounded all around by residential areas, very similar to Hong Kong's old airport before relocation in 1998. Safety concerns were raised after the August 2004 crash of a Marine Corps CH-53D transport helicopter on the campus of Okinawa International University after the aircraft suffered mechanical issues. Three crew members had minor injuries, but there were no injuries on the ground. The Guardian has stated that the location of MCAS Futenma in Ginowan "would be like having F22s landing in Hyde Park [in London]." Local residents also became concerned over pollution and ground water and soil contamination caused by the base's activities: for example, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Kris Roberts (USMC) told The Japan Times that his base maintenance team unearthed leaking barrels of Agent Orange at the base in 1981.