SCHUMER URGES AIR FORCE SECRETARY HEATHER WILSON TO DELIVER KC-135 FLIGHT SIMULATOR TO NFARS
In Call With USAF Secretary, Heather Wilson, Senator Pressed The Secretary To Fulfill Previous USAF Commitment To Bring Critical Simulator To NFARS; Bringing The Promised Simulator To NFARS
Would Support 2,600 Western New York Jobs, Help Train A New Generation Of Pilots At The 914th, And Make Use Of The Investments The Air Force Has Already Made In The Base
Schumer: NFARS Is Perfect Place To House Air Force Simulator
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, on a call with Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, continued his efforts to secure critical training equipment, specifically the KC-135 simulator, for Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS). During his confirmation hearing, General Goldfein indicated a commitment to providing the 914th the equipment needed for the KC-135 mission, including the flight simulator. Schumer said that bringing the promised simulator to NFARS would support 2,600 Western New York jobs, help train a new generation of pilots, and make use of the investments the Air Force has already made in the base. Schumer told Secretary Wilson that NFARS’s newly built facility stands ready to house the KC-135 simulator and urged her to review and approve the simulator transfer as soon as possible.
“When I worked to bring the KC-135 fleet back to NFARS, I made it clear to Air Force leadership that the flight simulator was integral to the 914th’s readiness and critical for proper execution of the KC-135 mission,” said Senator Schumer. “The Air Force subsequently made a promise to bring the simulator to NFARS and it is now time for USAF to deliver. This critical piece of training equipment will allow NFARS to successfully carry out a mission that is paramount to our national security and beneficial across our regional economy. It will bring pilots from across the country, provide good paying jobs, jumpstart new investment opportunities in the region, and sustain more than 2,600 jobs. I reiterated to Secretary Wilson that the Air Force’s prior investments at NFARS have uniquely positioned the base to immediately house the simulator. I will continue fighting until our pilots have the most up-to-date training technology and skills to keep our country safe.”
Schumer explained that he, along with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, helped to bring the KC-135 tanker fleet back to NFARS after the departure of the C-130 mission. Schumer explained that previously, NFARS had been flying aging C-130 tactical airlifters. The Air Force upgraded NFARS’s mission to the KC-135 aircraft after the Senators' urging. Schumer has visited NFARS in the past, including in April of this year, and worked with Air Force and National Guard officials to secure funding for the new training facility, building on the structures already in place at NFARS. Early last year, Schumer announced that the base would receive eight KC-135 aircrafts, which brought nearly $25 million in investments, jobs, and increased flight hours. During his call to the Secretary Schumer said that the next step is to secure the flight simulator and to give NFARS all the tools needed to adequately train pilots from across the country.
Schumer said NFARS has a total economic impact of more than $143 million, making it an indispensable part of Niagara County’s economy, as well as the county’s largest employer. Schumer said that carrying out improvements will signal to the Air Force and aviation communities that NFARS is committed to training the best KC-135 pilots in the country, and that it is vital to our national security.
Last week’s call was the second time Schumer pushed Secretary Wilson to make good on a promise to bring a flight simulator to NFARS. During a call in April, Schumer pushed Secretary Wilson to begin approving the simulator transfer and followed up his call with a visit to the base where Schumer called on the Pentagon to approve the simulator transfer as soon as possible.
In January of this year, Schumer and Gillibrand also called the Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and urged her to consider NFARS as a as a home for the KC-135. Schumer and Gillibrand cited the Defense Logistics Agency’s finding that such a transition was both possible and financially feasible, and that upgrades to NFARS’s existing infrastructure would result in enormous savings for the Air Force.
Schumer and Gillibrand have long fought to bring further investment to and jobs to NFARS:
In July 2015, Schumer met with General McDew, the commander of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) for the Air Force and successfully urged the General to support updating the base’s aircraft transport fleet as well as bring the KC-135 back to NFARS. As the commander of TRANSCOM, General McDew played a leading role in the final decision over which “mission” – or aircraft unit – would be phased in by TRANSCOM. Schumer said that because many bases around the country have already upgraded most of their aircraft, NFARS should be next on the list for updates to its C-130 fleet and the return of the KC-135 fleet, which is now reality.
In October 2015, Schumer and Gillibrand urged Lieutenant General James Jackson, Chief of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Reserve, to consider the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) as the next home for KC-135 tankers.
In November 2015, Schumer personally met with General Everhart, Commander of the Air Mobility Command for the U.S. Air Force (USAF), and urged him to prioritize the NFARS in Western New York as they are considering bases for new mission.
In December 2015, Schumer and Gillibrand announced that they secured a commitment from Lieutenant General Jackson to visit NFARS.
###
