Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania is telling his constituents that NAS Willow Grove—set to lose its Air National Guard A-10s if the BRAC commission rulings stand up—will remain active despite the realignment of the units currently stationed there. In an op-ed piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer Thursday, he wrote: “While Willow Grove will not continue in its current form, without question, a strong and significant military presence will remain there.” Rendell said the only issue now is the fate of the 111th Fighter Wing’s A-10s. He believes that the ruling by US Dist. Judge John Padova legally bars the removal of the A-10s. (DR, 8/29/05.) The BRAC commission and DOD disagree.
An Air Force C-17 transport jet recently tested a new technology that could help aviators stay on course even if the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) that much of modern-day aviation relies on is compromised.