U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell Advocates for American Made 767 Tankers for U.S. Air Force

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today in the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Senator Maria Cantwell applauded the U.S. Air Force's agreement to lease 100 Boeing 767 planes to replace its aging military tanker fleet. The planes will be assembled at Boeing's Everett plant. At least 32 of the planes will go to Fairchild Air Force Base and the lease is expected to result in nearly 8,000 jobs in Washington state. Below is part of Cantwell's statement:

"I became involved in this issue more than two years ago after a visit that I took to Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington state, which is one of the premier basing locations for our Air Force's refueling tankers. It was clear to me then, and it is clear to me now, that they are in need of help.

"The KC-135s were initially designed for a 25-year life span and they are showing extreme wear and tear.

"Due to the age of the tanker fleet, at any one time there are one hundred to two hundred KC-135 tankers - almost twenty percent of the fleet - on the ground waiting for maintenance. Currently, this maintenance takes an average of three to four hundred days for each plane. And these maintenance needs will only increase, leading to decreased availability.

"In February 2001, the USAF found that keeping the existing fleet until 2040 will add $17.8 billion dollars to the life cycle cost of the planes, and that the fleet will experience decreased availability due to increased time in depot maintenance.

"Our military now depends on the KC-135s for 90% of its re-fueling for Navy, Air Force and Marine aircraft involved in
regional conflicts around the world, not to mention our own increasing homeland security needs.

"We cannot afford to ignore the need to modernize our tanker fleet - unlike other planes in our arsenal, there is simply no replacement to tankers.

"Put simply, without a modern tanker fleet, our nation's air power could be crippled.

"If we do not replace these aircraft now, we are facing skyrocketing maintenance and modification costs.

"I think that the American people can be proud that we were able to find a solution that brings substantial cost savings and effective safeguards for taxpayers.

"I am particularly proud that the Air Force was able to find this solution with an American product. Boeing has been the industry leader in the tanker market for fifty years and it has helped ensure our military's air power dominance.

"I think the American people and our warfighters would want U.S. Air Force tankers that are made by American workers and suppliers.

"The deal at hand is vital to our national security and it is good for the U.S. taxpayer."