WASHINGTON - Air Force officials released their candidate list of basing locations April 23 for several aircraft, including the MC-12W, the C-17 Globemaster III, the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper and the C-27J.
The list of candidate bases for the MC-12W was approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force and include: Altus Air Force Base, Okla.; Beale AFB, Calif.; Key Field Air Guard Station, Miss.; Langley AFB, Va.; Robins AFB, Ga.; Whiteman AFB, Mo.
"The selection of this candidate list is the result of a deliberate, measured and transparent process," said Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for installations. "The Air Force looks forward to working with the communities surrounding these bases to ensure all concerns are addressed."
The candidate bases were selected using previously announced basing criteria.
Now that the list of candidate bases has been released, site surveys will be conducted and the formal environmental impact analysis process will begin, allowing communities around each candidate base to participate and provide input into the environmental impact analysis.
Based on the results of these efforts, officials expect to announce the preferred locations in late summer 2010.
Once the formal National Environmental Policy Act process is complete, Air Force officials will make a final determination on basing. This is anticipated in Spring 2011.
Air Force officials also named three Air National Guard sites as the locations for the C-17 Globemaster III and the criteria they used to determine the candidate basing locations for additional aircraft.
The list of candidate bases was approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force: Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport in Martinsburg, W.Va.; Memphis International Airport, Tenn.; and Stewart International Airport, N.Y.
The basing criteria were approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force and considered factors, such as mission requirements, airspace, facilities and infrastructure, support capacity, environmental impacts and cost.
"The Air Force used a deliberate, repeatable and transparent process to address the basing of these units," said Ferguson. "These criteria will help to ensure that key aspects for basing have been considered."
Site surveys will be conducted and the formal environmental impact analysis process will begin, allowing communities around each candidate base to participate and provide input.
Based on the results of these efforts, officials expect to announce the preferred locations in November 2010.
Once the environmental impact analysis processes are complete, Air Force officials will announce the final basing decisions. The announcement is anticipated in June 2011.
Finally, the basing criteria for the C-27J were approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force. The basing criteria considered factors, such as mission requirements, training requirements, airspace, facilities and infrastructure, support capacity and cost.
"The Air Force is using a deliberate, repeatable and transparent process to address the basing of these aircraft," said Ferguson. "These criteria will help to ensure that key aspects for basing have been considered."
After the release of the candidate bases, site surveys will be conducted and the formal environmental impact analysis process will begin for each type of aircraft, allowing communities around each candidate base to participate and provide input.
Based on the results of these efforts, Air Force officials expect to announce the candidate bases for C-27J formal training units in May and C-27J operations in June.