For Release: Wednesday, March 10, 2004
Contact: David Gillies: (202) 225-5661

SCOTT AFB TO RECEIVE SIX ADDITIONAL C-21 AIRCRAFT, 16 JOBS

Washington - U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) announced today that the Air Force has notified him that Scott Air Force Base will receive six additional C-21 aircraft over the next two years and 16 additional jobs. The planes are being consolidated from other bases.

"This is welcome news for Scott," said Costello. "As with the addition of the 18AF last year, I believe adding C-21s shows that Scott is an attractive place for consolidations, which is a point we are making as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process."

Scott is currently home to eight C-21s, and will receive three more by May of this year. Another plane will be added by the end of September, and two others will arrive in 2005.

The C-21s are used to provide passenger and cargo airlift over short ranges. They can also be configured to transport litters during medical evacuations.

Scott AFB is home to the U.S. Transportation Command and the Air Mobility Command. The base employs 13,000 people, making it the largest employer in Southwestern and Southern Illinois and the fourth largest employer in the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is estimated that Scott drives $2.1 billion into the regional economy annually.

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