FORT BRAGG, N.C. — The Air Force has once again delayed plans to do away with a group of transport planes based at Fort Bragg.
The Air Force Reserve Command had scheduled the deactivation of the 440th Airlift Wing for late September, but has now delayed that plan by at least a year, the Fayetteville Observer reported.
The unit was first marked for deactivation in March 2014, but some area congressmen have fought against the plan, which caused the delays, officials said.
Wing Commander Col. Karl Schmitkons announced the delay in a July edition of the unit’s newsletter, Combat Airlifter. Schmitkons said the Air Force Reserve still plans to deactivate the wing, now scheduled for Sept. 30, 2016. The decision also means an automatic transfer of the unit’s traditional Reservists has been canceled.
The delay comes because of pending legislation that is part of the National Defense Authorization Act, said Col. Robert Palmer with the Air Force Reserve Command. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers have amendments in the Senate and House versions of the bill that would delay the inactivation.
“The fate of the 440th is not simply an Air Force budget issue, it is a national security issue,” said Robert Wilkie, senior policy adviser for Tillis. “Its recent announcement to keep the 440th Air Lift Wing open for another year is the result of Senator Tillis’ unwavering stance on retaining the (wing).”
But Air Force leaders said the delay was not permanent. Palmer said it was too early to know for sure if the wing would be deactivated next year.
Air Force leaders have said the decision to inactivate the 440th, which flies C-130 aircraft that support training at Fort Bragg, was driven by budget concerns. In documents, the Air Force leaders have argued that outside air crews could serve Fort Bragg’s airborne units.
