Hill AFB preferred site for three F-35 squadrons

HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Two steps down, one to go.

First, Hill Air Force Base landed among the top six bases that are candidates for the next-generation fighter aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II.

Then, on Thursday, Utah's congressional delegation announced that the U.S. Air Force has selected Hill as one of the "preferred" bases to receive three squadrons of F-35s, or 72 planes, starting in 2013.

The final decision won't be made until after the completion of an environmental impact study, or EIS, which is under way, and a site survey. The draft EIS is expected to be completed in September, with the final EIS slated for early 2011.

"This is a great day for the state, Hill Air Force Base and the economy in northern Utah," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, in a news release. "The Air Force's decision today represents a tremendous vote of confidence in the base and the unique strengths it offers to the service."

Kathleen Ferguson, deputy assistant secretary for Air Force installations, said preferred alternatives and other reasonable alternatives will continue to be evaluated in the environmental impact analysis process.

A preferred alternative is an alternative that the Air Force believes best fulfills its mission and responsibilities, taking into consideration environmental, operational, technical and other factors.

Barring a change in the Air Force's service requirements or an unforeseen event, Hill is on track to have one of the nation's first operational F-35 squadrons, along with Burlington Air Guard Station in Vermont.

Burlington, which has one squadron of 18 F-16s, is being considered to house up to two squadrons of F-35s, according to EIS scoping documents. Planes located at Burlington would have access to three training ranges of airspace in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.

Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida have been selected as preferred training bases in a separate EIS process.

The arrival of sparkling new planes would be reminiscent of 1979, when Hill became home to the first squadron of then-new F-16s.

"The Air Force's decision to bring F-35 squadrons to Hill will secure the future of this base for decades to come," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, in the news release. "We are proud to host one of the first operational squadrons of these powerful fighters."