×

Ryan pushes for new planes at air base

VIENNA — The U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that includes funding for two additional C-130J Super Hercules aircraft that could end up at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

The bill will move to the full House in the next week or two and then go to the Senate, said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

The bill likely won’t be approved by Congress until after the November election, he said Tuesday.

Ryan said the two planes “are for the air base,” but that’s not a guarantee.

The planes are for Air Force Reserve units such as YARS.

Ryan last year helped put funding in a bill for four new C-130Js with the provision that they be placed at Air Force Reserve bases with special missions.

YARS is one of two with a special mission. Its 910th Airlift Wing operates the only large area fixed-wing aerial spray unit within the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Air Force will make a final decision in the next couple of years with the planes expected in 2023.

However, two of the four planes approved for funding last year were removed in February to free up money for the construction of President Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall.

The two planes in the bill approved Tuesday by the Appropriations Committee would replace the two taken for the wall.

“We are elated that the hard work and diligence of Congressman Ryan and his staff have led to an additional appropriation to replace those C-130Js lost to reprogramming earlier this year,” said Vito Abruzzino, executive director of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission.

YARS has eight C-130H planes that are from 1989 and 1990. It had four other C-130H planes moved to other military bases in 2013.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today