Sioux City, Iowa (RI) — The lobbying effort continues for federal funding to keep the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing operating out of Sioux City.
The current runway was designed for F-16 figher jets, but Sioux City pilots began flying large refueling tankers in 2003. The FAA says the runway will soon be unsafe for those aircraft and must be replaced.
Chris McGowan, president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, says it’s good news that the House passed a bill last week that includes $38.5 million for the project.
McGowan says the focus now shifts to the U.S. House, where Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley may be able to convince their fellow senators to approve a higher funding amount.
He notes the Iowa Legislature recently approved $10 million in state funding to help support the runway project.
The Federal Aviation Administration has also set aside $20 million, but that money will be lost if the Pentagon does not start the project by mid-2027.
The KC Stratotanker aircrafts used by the 185th weigh over 322,000 pounds at takeoff when fully fueled. The U.S. military’s first successful in-air refueling occurred more than a century ago, and today the Air Force and Marine Corps operate more than 730 tanker aircraft flying refueling missions worldwide.
KIWA Staff Photo
