"Los Angeles eyes Air Force Plant 42 airfield takeover"

Thursday, October 31, 2002

Los Angeles eyes Air Force Plant 42 airfield takeover
Hahn orders city agency to study operating runways
By ALLISON GATLIN
The Antelope Valley (CA) Press


PALMDALE - The agency that owns and operates Palmdale Regional Airport is
investigating steps to protect its hope of securing commercial air service,
including possibly taking over airfield operations from the Air Force at
Plant 42.

The moves by Los Angeles World Airports agency come amid cutbacks in
airfield operations at Air Force Plant 42 already in effect, and with a
possible shutdown looming for the field - a shutdown that is being actively
opposed by Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita.

Earlier this month, a funding shortfall caused the Air Force to limit use of
the Plant 42 runways for the largest aircraft, such as C17 cargo aircraft
and the B-2 stealth bomber.

Air Force officials have warned the funding shortfall could force complete
closure of the airfield's operations next summer.

In a letter dated Oct. 22, Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn asked the executive
director of Los Angeles World Airports to monitor the Plant 42 funding
situation. Hahn directed Lydia Kennard in her position as head of LAWA to
develop contingency plans in case Air Force funding is not available.

"The contingency plans may include the possibility of LAWA operating the
airfield on short notice should the Air Force be unable to continue to do
so," Hahn said in the letter.

Los Angeles World Airports, a city agency, owns and operates Los Angeles
International Airport, as well as the Ontario, Van Nuys and Palmdale
airports. The agency has a joint-use agreement with the Air Force, in effect
until 2017, to use the Plant 42 runways for as many as 50 operations daily.
An operation is either a takeoff or a landing.

The last commercial carrier stopped service at Palmdale in April 1998.

LAWA, along with the city of Palmdale, is seeking the return of commercial
passenger airline service.

"We will not let anything happen that would jeopardize eventual passenger or
cargo traffic coming into Palmdale," said Dennis Watson, LAWA spokesman.
"It's not an immediate problem. So far, there is no airline that wants to
come in and provide service to Palmdale."

Other than a letter sent to Plant 42 Commander Lt. Col. Celeo Wright last
week stating a desire to open a dialogue between the Air Force and LAWA,
there has been no movement on the issue, said Bill Machingo, chief of Air
Force Plant 42 integrated process team.

The team headed by Machingo is based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio, headquarters of the Air Force Materiel Command, which oversees Plant
42.

"They're interested in beginning a dialogue and that's exactly where it is,"
Machingo said.

Without any details, Machingo could not speculate on what position the Air
Force might take on turning over airfield operations to another agency.

As for the funding shortfall, which Machingo called a still-fluid number in
"the single millions," the Air Force is still working to close the gap.

"We're actively working to find as much as we can to eliminate it," he said.
"There's a lot of talking going on."

McKeon, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, is also working to
ensure funding to maintain airfield operations at Plant 42. McKeon
represents much of the Antelope Valley, a region adjacent to the district of
Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, chairman of the House Ways and Means
Committee.

In an Oct. 16 letter to Air Force Secretary James G. Roche, McKeon wrote: "I
believe that we are early enough in the Fiscal Year 2004 budget process to
ensure that Air Force Plant 42 receives proper consideration. As such, I
would urge you not to make a near-term budget decision that could have a
serious impact on Plant 42's airfield operations in the future."

Although the congressman's involvement is at a federal level, "Mr. McKeon is
open to looking at any option to keep Plant 42 operating," said Deana Bass,
spokeswoman for McKeon.

Much of the work done at Plant 42 is accomplished at what are known as
GOCOs - governmentowned, contractor-operated facilities.

At Plant 42, these contractors are Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Northrop
Grumman Corp. and The Boeing Co.

"We want to make sure we have consistent service," said Dianne Knippel,
Lockheed Martin spokeswoman. "We have a need, just like the other aerospace
contractors (at Plant 42), and that need is not going away."

In addition to testing and producing new aircraft, the Palmdale installation
is also home to the routine, major maintenance of several different
aircraft, as well as modification programs.

Among the aircraft undergoing work at Plant 42 are the stealthy B-2 bomber
and F-117 fighter, the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, the Global Hawk unmanned
aerial vehicle and portions of the still-developing F-35 joint strike
fighter.

So far, the runway limitations have not affected Northrop Grumman's
operations, including the B2 modification program, company spokesman Jim
Hart said.

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