AMC Awards Spokane/Fairchild Abilene Trophy

The Air Mobility Command report the 2013 Abilene Trophy was awarded to Spokane, Washington, this week by AMC. This award is presented annually to the community in AMC that is most supportive of its local Air Force base.

Fairchild Air Force Base has a continuous global mission that employs more than 5,700 personnel and supports 17,000 retirees; and the Inland Northwest community has proven to be the grassroots supporting Fairchild and Air Mobility Command.

"Team Fairchild celebrates the Abilene award for our All-American community. 2013 was arguably one of the more difficult years for the base since 1994 and the patriotic Spokane community was our closest wingman during every challenge," said Col. Brian Newberry, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander. "Their Lilac heart beats strong for our Airmen. We salute the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs committee, specifically Ms. Kristina Jones and Mr. Gray Bridwell, for hosting an award that recognizes our red, white and blue communities that make us stronger. Congratulations Spokane and the Greater Spokane Incorporated!"

Spokane has neighbored Fairchild and its military units for more than 93 years. Many of the city's accolades last year gave proof that it is still, more than ever, proudly supporting its American Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Inland Northwest.

"I truly believe that our community's relationship with the Air Force represents the best in the nation. This award is an incredible honor for our citizens and a testament to their unwavering support of Fairchild and our local military families, whom we honor every year in May with the Lilac Festival and Parade," said Spokane Mayor David Condon. "We pride ourselves on that legacy and will continue to uphold the mission of Fairchild Air Force Base, the individuals who serve here, and their families."

Below are some of the attributes of why the Abilene Trophy was awarded to the city of Spokane:
• The Spokane Liliac Festival Armed Forces Torchlight Parade continues to be the largest U.S. nighttime parade, which attracts more than 150,000 visitors saluting the military.
• Operation Spokane Heroes donated $5,000 in holiday gift cards to military families; in 2013, Treats-for-Troops donations tripled for Soldiers and Airmen overseas.
• Spokane Military Alliance was created to better funnel business support for military.
• The state of Washington employs more than 700 traditional Guardsmen, and a majority in the City of Spokane. Just in 2013, these employers have supported their Airmen who executed 227 deployments with a total of 17,408 days to serve around the world.

"This is truly a community honor and shows how fortunate we are to have Fairchild Air Force Base and its personnel part of our community," said Rich Hadley, President and CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated.

These milestones will be honored and celebrated with a trophy to the City of Spokane at a later date and will be presented by the Abilene Community.

Air Force Announces KC-46A Preferred and Reasonable Alternatives

Air Force officials announced today the preferred and reasonable alternatives for the first KC-46A Tanker aircraft training and main operating bases.  The Air Force must now conduct the necessary environmental analysis before making a final basing decision in Spring 2014

Altus Air Force Base, Okla., is the preferred alternative for the KC-46A formal training unit.

McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., is the preferred alternative for the first active duty-led KC-46A main operating base.

Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., are the reasonable alternatives.

The preferred alternative for the first Air National Guard KC-46A main operating base is Pease Air Guard Station, N.H.  The reasonable alternatives are Forbes Air Guard Station, Kan.; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Pittsburgh International Airport Air Guard Station, Pa., and Rickenbacker Air Guard Station, Ohio.

Congressman Adam Smith said, “I respect and appreciate how the Air Force has conducted this process, but  it is disappointing that Fairchild Air Force Base was not chosen as the Air Force’s preferred host for KC-46A,” Smith said. “I still believe that Fairchild’s capacity and accommodations for the tanker, strategic location, tremendous community support, and proven track record of serving our nation’s aerial refueling effort with the KC-135 make the base an ideal home for the next generation of tankers.  The Washington Congressional delegation has and will continue to work together to promote Fairchild’s capacity to host future tankers.”

"The Air Force chose these locations using operational analysis, results of site surveys and military judgment factors," said Timothy Bridges, the Air Force deputy assistant secretary for installations.

"Bringing the KC-46A online is an important step in recapitalizing a tanker fleet that has been a leader in air refueling for more than five decades," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said. "This new age aircraft will achieve better mission-capable rates with less maintenance downtime, improving our ability to respond with rapid, global capability to assist U.S., joint, allied and coalition forces and better support humanitarian missions."

Welsh explained the 179 planned KC-46A aircraft are just the first phase of a three-phase effort to replace more than 400 KC-135 and 59 KC-10 aircraft.  The first phase of tanker recapitalization will complete deliveries in fiscal 2028.  He went on to emphasize the importance of continuing KC-135 modernization efforts.

"I want to stress that the KC-135 units not replaced with the KC-46A will continue to fly the KC-135R for the foreseeable future," Welsh said. "Throughout tanker recapitalization, the Air Force is committed to ensuring continued support of combatant commander requirements."

"The Air Force began the Environmental Impact Analysis Process in April 2013," Bridges said. "We look forward to the inputs provided from the communities as we proceed through the environmental impact analysis."

"Once the requirements of the environmental impact analysis process are complete, the Air Force will make its final basing decision," he said.

The KC-46A will provide improved capability, including boom and drogue refueling on the same sortie, world-wide navigation and communication, airlift capability on the entire main deck floor, receiver air refueling, improved force protection and survivability, and multi-point air refueling capability.

The formal training unit and the first main operating base will begin receiving aircraft in fiscal 2016. The second main operating base will receive aircraft in fiscal 2018.

For more information, please contact Ann Stefanek, Air Force Public Affairs, at 703-695-0640 or email.

Fairchild Formally A Candidate for Tankers

Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.; Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.; and McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., are candidate bases for the first active-duty led KC-46A main operating base (MOB).  

The Air Force announced today Altus Air Force Base, Okla., and McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., as candidate bases for the KC-46A formal training unit (FTU).  

Forbes Air Guard Station, Kan.; Joint-Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; Pease Air Guard Station, N.H.; Pittsburgh International Airport Air Guard Station, Pa.; and Rickenbacker Air Guard Station, Ohio, are candidate bases for the first Air National Guard led KC-46A MOB. 

The major commands will conduct detailed, on-the-ground site surveys of each candidate base.  They will assess each location against operational and training requirements, potential impacts to existing missions, housing, infrastructure, and manpower.  Additionally, they will develop cost estimates to bed down the KC-46A for each candidate base. 

Once the site surveys are completed, the results will be briefed to the secretary of the Air Force and chief of staff of the Air Force to select preferred and reasonable alternatives for the FTU and two operating locations.  The Air Force plans to announce KC-46A preferred and reasonable alternatives and begin the Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP) in spring 2013. 

Gen. Mark Welsh III, Air Force chief of staff explained that the 179 planned KC-46A aircraft are just the first phase of a 3-phase effort to replace more than 400 KC-135 and 59 KC-10 aircraft.  The first phase of tanker recapitalization will complete deliveries in fiscal 2028.

The KC-46A will provide improved capability, including boom and drogue refueling on the same sortie, world-wide navigation and communication, airlift capability on the entire main deck floor, receiver air refueling, improved force protection and survivability, and multi-point air refueling capability. 

The FTU and active duty MOB will begin receiving aircraft in fiscal 2016.  The Air National Guard MOB will receive aircraft in fiscal 2018. 

For more information, please contact Ann Stefanek, Air Force Public Affairs at 703-695-0640 or ann.stefanek@pentagon.af.mil.

Fairchild In Competition for KC-46

The Air Force announced on May 14 the basing criteria for the candidate locations of the KC-46A tanker's formal training unit and first two main operating bases.

Active Duty units will lead the FTU and first main operating base (MOB 1), while an Air National Guard unit will oversee MOB 2, said service officials. The FTU and MOB 1 are scheduled to begin receiving aircraft in Fiscal 2016; MOB 2 will get its airplanes in Fiscal 2018, they said.

The FTU basing criteria include: mission (proximity of aircraft available to support air refueling training, student throughput, aircrew training systems, fuels considerations, and potential to establish an association), capacity (hangars, runway, ramp space, and facility considerations), environmental requirements, and cost factors. The MOBs' basing criteria include mission (proximity to refueling receiver demand; airfield and airspace availability; fuels considerations; and potential to establish an association), capacity, environmental requirements, and cost factors.

Based on the results for Fairchild AFB and about 60 other Air Force bases, the Air Force plans to announce KC-46A preferred and reasonable alternatives and begin the environmental impact analysis process (EIAP) for the FTU and MOB 1 in December 2012. Likewise, the Air Force plans to announce the preferred and reasonable alternatives and begin the EIAP for MOB 2 in the spring of 2013.

Once service officials have identified and announced the candidate bases, Air Mobility Command will conduct site surveys at them. The Air Force plans to announce the preferred locations and alternatives for the FTU and MOB 1 in December 2012, and for MOB 2 in spring 2013.