Fairchild will be home to new tankers

Team Fairchild continues to grow.

Fairchild Air Force Base announced June 6 it would be the new home of 12 primary-assigned KC-135 Stratotankers and three backup inventory aircraft. The KC-135s are scheduled to transfer from McConnell Air Force Base, in Wichita, Kan., in fiscal year 2020.

In a June 5 news release, Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force, announced Fairchild as the "best choice for additional Air Force tankers."

Fairchild became the home of six Stratotankers in March in the form of the 384th Air Refueling Squadron. The addition of these KC-135s makes Fairchild the largest tanker fleet in the Air Force with 59 personally-assigned aircraft, and will increase the base's operational capability by over 750 sorties per year and increase the total flying hours to approximately 22,500. Fairchild currently executes more than 3,000 training and operational sorties per year.

"Team Fairchild has earned a well-deserved and award-winning reputation for excellence and is well-suited to become the Air Force's largest and premiere KC-135 Stratotanker base," 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander Col. Ryan Samuelson said.

The addition of the new aircraft not only enhances Fairchild's mission, but is expected to bring in more than $19.5 million per year to Spokane County. The fiscal year 2016 economic impact of the base was more than $430 million and will increase when the aircraft arrive.

The new aircraft will also bring an additional KC-135 air refueling squadron and aircraft maintenance unit, with approximately 400 personnel and dependents - an increase of about 600 people - who will transfer to Fairchild in summer 2019. This would raise Fairchild's total assigned military personnel to roughly 4,850. It would also likely result in Fairchild inheriting another air refueling wing under its banner, but the unit's name is unknown at this time.

In addition to the new aircraft, Fairchild will undergo some modernization. The base is currently Air Mobility Command's lead wing for the KC-135 modernization program commonly referred to as the Block 45 upgrade. This project will improve the aircraft flight deck displays and autopilot system, as well as increase the safety and situational awareness for aircrew. The base is also expected to spend $30 million on construction projects.

Part of Fairchild's growth also focuses on its relationship with the surrounding communities. Samuelson recognizes the announcement of the new aircraft is happening during the water situation with Airway Heights. He explained that Fairchild will continue to work with Airway Heights and private well owners to further test and mitigate the contamination that resulted from the base's activities.

Fairchild will also conduct an environmental impact study of its operations and activities and engage communities to learn their concerns.

"We just want to make sure our operations don't negatively impact the area," Samuelson said.