F-16 Report Spurs Plenty of Questions About Fighter Jet Move

Local Leaders Question Air Force on its Plans

June 01, 2012|By Ted Land | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Community leaders in Fairbanks and North Pole have had a busy 24 hours, combing through a just-released report on an Air Force plan to relocate F-16 fighter jets from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage.

The interior could lose at minimum 500 airmen and their families, according to the report.

During a teleconference meeting with the Air Force, Friday, mayors and staffers for elected officials asked about everything from schools, to housing, to what to do with possible empty hangars up Eielson Air Force Base.

“We have a mandate to drive toward significant savings,” Brig. Gen. Mark McLeod told the group.

The Air Force says it could demolish soon-to-be vacated hangars and other structures at Eielson to save money.

“I certainly would hope that the federal government would back away from destroying buildings that are completely usable and don’t cost that much to heat,” said Luke Hopkins, Fairbanks North Star Borough mayor.

“Were we to make the decision to demolish those buildings, it would be after a contemplative effort that would exhaust all other options,” said McLeod.

Another concern -- does Anchorage have room for an influx of hundreds of airmen and their families?

“We have the lowest number of active homes for sale that we've seen in just over five years,” said Kevin Cross, president of the Anchorage chapter of the Alaska Association of Realtors.

Good rentals are hard to come by, too. Cross says most people would have to commute in to town.

“I think the biggest winner in this equation is going to be the Wasilla market. They've got the land, they've got the infrastructure, they've got the support,” he said.

After Friday’s questions, the Air Force admits it owes the community some better answers.

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