THE 185TH AIR NATIONAL GUARD REFUELING WING IS ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO HAVING FUNDING SECURED FOR RUNWAY REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT.
WEDNESDAY THE U.S. HOUSE PASSED THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT WHICH INCLUDES THE 185TH FUNDING,
IOWA CONGRESSMAN RANDY FEENSTRA VOTED FOR THE BILL APPROVING FUNDING THAT INCLUDES THE RUNWAY, A PARKING APRON, AND A WARM-UP/HOLDING PAD AT SIOUX GATEWAY AIRPORT:
185RF1 OC….STRATOTANKERS. :11
THE RUNWAY IN SIOUX CITY WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR LIGHTWEIGHT F-16 FIGHTER JETS.
TWENTY YEARS AGO THE 185TH BECAME A REFUELING WING AND FLYS KC-135 STRATOTANKERS THAT WEIGH 41-AND-A-HALF TONS WHEN FULLY LOADED.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID IT WILL SOON BE UNSAFE FOR THOSE PLANES TO USE THAT RUNWAY.
185RF2 OC………RUNNING OUT.” :11
THE F-A-A HAS SET ASIDE 20-MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE PROJECT, BUT THAT FUNDING WOULD BE LOST IF THE PENTAGON DOESN’T START THE PROJECT BY MID-2027.
THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPLACING THE RUNWAY AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IS NEARLY 150-MILLION DOLLARS.
THE LANGUAGE AUTHORIZING THE PROJECT’S START IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
THE SENATE IS EXPECTED TO SOON APPROVE THE BILL AND SEND IT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS SIGNATURE.
KSCJ FILE PHOTO
