Much like the Navy did when they based all of the Navy EA-6B Prowler squadrons (except one permantly forward depolyed in Japan) at NAS Whidbey Island and the E-6B Mercury Squadrons at Tinker AFB.
Puts the EP-3C fleet in one place, minimizes I level maintenance and parts management inventory.
NAS Whidbey is the only place where EP-3 systems maintenance is taught.
Cheaper to base maintainers, aircrews and families in CONUS vice overseas.
When the C-9 Reserve squadron gets its C-44 Clippers (Boeing 737's) and the Whidbey based P-3C's and EP-3C's are traded in for the P-8 MMA (Boeing 737's) again the fleet commonality will help reduce operating / maintenance costs.
Finally, VQ-2 will still be DET'ed out of ROTA, they will still be an AIRLANT asset.
Quoted: now what benefit would flying from WA have?
|