In a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force Senator Murray expressed her strong support for the selection of Fairchild Air Force Base for KC-46A Main Operating Base 6
Senator Murray: “As you move forward in this basing decision, I respectfully request you give full and fair consideration to Fairchild Air Force Base as the next home to the KC-46A fleet”
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), wrote to the Acting Secretary of the Air Force, John P. Roth, calling for the Air Force to give full consideration to Fairchild Air Force Base as the sixth main operating base for the KC-46A aerial refueling tanker.
“Home to the world’s largest air refueling wing, Fairchild already possesses much of the needed capacity to accommodate the KC-46A aerial refueling tankers,” Senator Murray wrote. “The base provides substantial runway, hangar, and ramp capacity, as well as four squadron operation and maintenance facilities. In addition to being well-equipped to support the operations and logistics requirements of the KC-46A, Fairchild also boasts Air Mobility Command’s best small installation-level Force Support Squadron for the second year in a row, ensuring airmen are supported in their personal and family lives too.”
In the letter, Senator Murray highlighted Fairchild’s logistical ability to house the KC-46A fleet, the historic role that Fairchild has played in the history of our nation’s Air Force, and the importance of the base to the local community.
“The Spokane community has shared a strong bond and long history of support with Fairchild Air Force Base dating back to 1942 when local business leaders and citizens raised funds to purchase land just west of the city to encourage the War Department to base there. Since that time, the Spokane community has proudly supported the men and women of Team Fairchild, with the local area offering an exceptional quality of life for airmen and their families,” Senator Murray continued. “As you move forward in this basing decision, I respectfully request you give full and fair consideration to Fairchild Air Force Base as the next home to the KC-46A fleet.”
Senator Murray has been a consistent advocate for Fairchild Air Force Base, the servicemembers stationed there, and the surrounding community. In 2017, Senator Murray successfully helped push to relocate a squadron of KC-135s to Fairchild, and criticized the Air Force’s decision not to locate the KC-46A at Fairchild in a prior round of basing decisions.
Read the full letter HERE.
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