HR 243: Urge selection of Rickenbacker as KC-46 Pegasus operating base.

A RESOLUTION

To request the Secretary of the Air Force select the 121st Air Refueling Wing at the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, as the preferred main operating base for the KC-46 Pegasus refueling aircraft.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Ohio:

WHEREAS, The Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base has a host of assets that will provide the Air Force and its guard component with unmatched benefits for basing the KC-46; and

WHEREAS, Rickenbacker, unmatched in capabilities, features two 12,000-foot runways rated for unrestricted heavy aircraft use. The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, the civilian local airport agency that hosts the 121st ARW, has invested more than $62.9 million in airport infrastructure since 2017, including runway upgrades; and

WHEREAS, Rickenbacker contains ramps and taxiways that are KC-46 capable at an airfield with unmatched air-road-rail intermodal capabilities positioning Rickenbacker to be a strategic aerial port of embarkation; and

WHEREAS, Rickenbacker is located within four hours of 60% of all Department of Defense customers and six to eight hours of nearly 80% of potential customers; and

WHEREAS, Rickenbacker features a new squadron flying operations facility as well as a modern weapons system simulator facility capable of housing KC-46 simulators; and

WHEREAS, Rickenbacker has a location adjacent to new facilities for passenger and cargo movement that could accommodate planned or future needs of the Department of Defense; and

WHEREAS, Rickenbacker sits in a geographic location that enjoys a very low risk for natural disasters and weather issues in comparison to all of the other candidate sites; and

WHEREAS, Rickenbacker is the home of the 121st Air Refueling Wing; and

WHEREAS, The men and women of the 121st Air Refueling Wing have demonstrated that they are top-notch experienced performers, recognized in 2024 as the Air National Guard's top KC-135 wing with over 3,290 flight hours offloading over 17 million pounds of fuel to over 3,600 contacts, and is the only one of two assessed wings that is aligned with KC-46 manpower requirements; and

WHEREAS, The 121st Air Refueling Wing flew 126% of programmed flying hours in 2023, exceeding its commitment, and allowing the Air National Guard to achieve its flying hours target, and has overall wing manning at 109% placing the 121st at number four among 90 Air National Guard wings and number two among 16 KC-135 wings. Aircrew manning is 114%, and maintenance manning is 126%; and

WHEREAS, The 121st Air Refueling Wing executed eight major overseas deployments while supporting 24 major exercises worldwide over the past five years; and

WHEREAS, The 121st Air Refueling Wing is leading other locations in standing up a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) (operational in 2026) to increase its ability to fulfill more missions and roles; and

WHEREAS, The 121st Air Refueling Wing is a critical support element for the Nuclear Triad; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the House of Representatives of the 136th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, request the Secretary of the Air Force select the 121st Air Refueling Wing at the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, as the preferred main operating base for the KC-46 Pegasus refueling aircraft; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the members of Ohio's Congressional delegation, Dr. Troy E. Meink, Secretary of the Air Force, and the news media of Ohio.