In Advance of Secretary James' Visit to New Hampshire, Ayotte Praises Pease and 157th Air Refueling Wing

Press Release

Ahead of Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James' visit to Pease Air National Guard base on Friday, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today asked Secretary James and the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Mark Welsh III, for a status update regarding the KC-46A air refueling tanker. The officials assured Ayotte that everything is on track and that the aircraft will begin test flights in June. On Friday, Senator Ayotte will join Secretary James for a tour of Pease - home to the 157th Air Refueling Wing - which is scheduled to be the first Air National Guard unit to receive the next generation tanker, pending a successful outcome of an environmental impact study.

"We're very proud of the work being done by the 157th and we're looking forward to when you come on Friday to highlighting what is happening at Pease and also the preparedness that they have put into being the guard unit that will receive the KC-46A," said Senator Ayotte. "I look forward to seeing you in New Hampshire and just would ask, is everything on track for the KC-46A?"

Secretary James replied: "Yes."

General Welsh added: "We are actually going to start flying in June, the first test sortie for the first test aircraft. There are four in the production line now. Everything is on schedule."

In May 2013, Ayotte and fellow delegation members announced that the Air Force had selected Pease as the top Air National Guard base to receive the new tanker. Ayotte had worked with delegation members for over a year to advocate for Pease to receive the tanker.

On September 18, during an office call with Secretary James, Senator Ayotte invited the Air Force Secretary to visit Pease. Senator Ayotte reiterated that invitation the following day during a Senate Armed Services Committee nomination hearing for Secretary James.

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