Local officials from Grand Forks, N.D., have started exploring options for the post-BRAC life of Grand Forks Air Force Base, according to the Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, the base, will lose its KC-135 tanker mission as part of BRAC 2005 actions, but it is slated to pick up a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle operation. City officials say they plan to work with DOD’s Office of Economic Adjustment and other nearby communities. The Air National Guard unit at Fargo, N.D., already is looking to piggyback on the Grand Forks Predator mission. And, the state is setting up a UAV center of excellence at the University of North Dakota, which has enlisted the aid of Lockheed Martin. It would seem North Dakota is well ahead of the game.
Today’s armament maintainers are tasked with performing flightline (O-Level) maintenance with an assortment of legacy test sets that greatly limit the ability to quickly and efficiently verify armament system readiness, diagnose failures, and ultimately return the aircraft to full mission...