Air Force announces MC-12 basing decision 4/8/2011 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., -- The Department of the Air Force recently announced it will base the MC-12W Liberty aircraft here. The announcement comes following the completion of an environmental assessment that concluded with a finding of no significant impact, clearing the way for the final decision. The first MC-12W aircraft will begin arriving early this summer. Initially, seven aircraft will be used for mission qualification training. The Air Force will continue to keep the majority of MC-12W aircraft deployed. The MC-12W is a medium altitude, twin-engine, turboprop aircraft. The aircrew consists of two pilots, a sensor operator and a cryptologic operator. Its primary mission is to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support directly to ground forces. The MC-12W capability supports all aspects of the world-wide Air Force irregular warfare mission, including counter-insurgency, foreign internal defense and building partnership capacity. "We are honored to be selected as the location of the MC-12 mission," said Brig. Gen. Paul H. McGillicuddy, the 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander. "We have a long history of operating intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance weapon systems, and we are ready to add MC-12W to our Beale fleet." For more information, call the 9th RW public affairs office at 530-634-8887.