Beale chosen as preferred site for recon planes

Beale Air Force Base is the "preferred alternative" to host the MC-12W Liberty mission, the Air Force said Thursday.

The selection of a permanent home for the mission represents about 550 new positions and could potentially bring hundreds of new military and civilian personnel to the area.

Initially, seven MC-12W aircraft are expected to be housed at Beale for training and test purposes, should the base get the final nod in the spring of 2011, as expected.

"This also ensures Beale remains the premier base for reconnaissance missions," said Rep. Wally Herger, R-Chico, who helped lobby for Beale as the permanent MC-12W home.

A final decision about the site awaits an environmental impact study and conclusion of the public comment period early in 2011.

Bringing the new mission to Beale on a full-time basis would set the stage for steady improvement and expansion of the local economy, said Yuba County Supervisor John Nicoletti.

"This workforce comes in educated, with advanced technology. They're 100 percent employed, and they'll want to be part of what's going on in the Yuba-Sutter area," he said.

The aircraft, a Hawker Beechcraft King Air-350 airframe with customized sensors, requires four aircrew members — two pilots, a sensor operator and a signals intelligence specialist.

Analysts on the ground are able to view imagery captured by the plane's sensors and listen to telephone conversations between insurgents in real time, according to an article in the Air Force Times.

"This announcement is good news for Beale Air Force Base and Northern California, and confirms the Air Force's intent for Beale to continue as an essential base for national security," reads a statement from Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Feinstein said the Air Force intends to budget $18.7 million to fund new on-base housing to accommodate the additional personnel.

Beale's 9th Reconnaissance Wing serves as the interim parent wing for the MC-12W, which represents the Air Force's newest intelligence surveillance reconnaissance aircraft.

The aircraft deployed for its first combat sorties in June at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, and operates in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Its mission was initiated by Defense Secretary Robert Gates in 2008.

"Beale Air Force Base is honored to be selected as the base to host the MC-12 mission," 9th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Paul H. McGillicuddy said in a prepared statement about Beale's tentative selection.

"We have a long history of involvement in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and we look forward to continuing these critical missions with the MC-12," McGillicuddy said.

Should the mission be installed at Beale, Nicoletti said, the housing market is likely to see the economic impact first.

"Beale has a housing need," he said. "This could help put the brakes on empty houses and rental spaces."

Two other bases have been under consideration after evaluations of six total sites.

Robins Air Force Base in Georgia or Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri would likely be reconsidered should problems arise with the Beale selection.

MC-12W personnel currently are trained at the Mississippi Air National Guard's Key Field in Meridian.

"Beale has a very bright future for expansion," said Nicoletti. "It's a good news day."

CONTACT Nancy Pasternack at 749-4712 or at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com.