“A Key Step in Making Fairchild the First Home of the New Tanker”

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, applauded the Air Force’s release of its KC-46A tanker basing criteria today.  These criteria will be used to select candidate bases for the KC-46A formal training unit and the first two main operating bases.

“I am grateful to the Air Force for its diligent, timely and thorough evaluation of the tanker strategic basing criteria – a set of criteria that is exceptionally important to Fairchild Air Force Base and all of Eastern Washington,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “I will continue working closely with the Air Force – including Secretary Michael Donley – to ensure that Fairchild is the first home of the new KC-46A tanker.”

The Air Force basing criteria include: mission, capacity, environmental requirements and cost factors, all of which will be closely evaluated in the upcoming months.  The Air Force will use these criteria to conduct an enterprise-wide review of potential base candidates and make recommendations to the Secretary later this summer.  Afterwards, Air Mobility Command will conduct site surveys at each candidate base.  In December, the final candidates will be announced and the environmental impact process will be initiated.

“Given the crucial role that tankers play in the execution of strategic U.S. military operations – and the multitude of advantages Fairchild offers – I believe it is essential that the new KC-46A tankers will be stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base.  Today’s announcement of basing criteria is a key step in the process, and I eagerly await the Air Force’s further evaluations.  Until then, I will continue to serve as a proud and vocal advocate for Fairchild Air Force Base.”

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