U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym and U.S. Senators Todd Young and Mike Braun sent a letter to the Pentagon to return the KC-135 Stratotanker inspection point back to Grissom. Photo by MSGT Vincent De Groot

News Release

WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) and U.S. Senators from Indiana Todd Young and Mike Braun sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall urging the Air Force Reserve to return full inspection point operations for the KC-135 Stratotanker fleet back to Grissom Joint Air Reserve Base. The letter was sent Monday, ay 8.

“We write to voice our concerns about discussions to maintain a KC-135 Stratotanker inspection point at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. We believe that full inspection point operations should be returned to Grissom Joint Air Reserve Base (Grissom ARB) in north central Indiana,” Yakym, Young and Braun wrote.

“As you may know, Grissom ARB served as the KC-135 inspection point until recently, when a portion was transferred to Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. However, it has become clear that such operations fell outside Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station’s capabilities. Conversely, Grissom ARB remains fully equipped with the necessary expertise, equipment, and personnel to run the full slate of inspections efficiently and effectively,” the lawmakers continued.

“Proper maintenance and inspection are critical to the safety of our aviators and the longevity of the aircraft they operate. The leadership and military and civilian employees at Grissom ARB take this role very seriously and have the proven track record to show it. As such, we believe that the Air Force Reserve should continue with its plans to transfer full inspection point operations back to Grissom ARB,” Yakym, Young, and Braun concluded.

Full text of the letter can be found here.