WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine along with every member of the Virginia congressional delegation are trying to relocate F-22 Flight and Maintenance Formal Training Units (FTU) to Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton Roads.
The squadron is usually based at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Michael in October of 2018. Right now, they are being temporarily held at Eglin Air Force Base.
U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson has not announced where the units will be permanently housed.
Joint Base Langley-Eustis was build to accommodate three squadrons, and it is currently being underutilized. The base houses only two F-22 squadrons and supporting maintenance units.
The senators said moving the F-22 FTU would advance an important recommendation put forward by the Government Accountability Office, which has emphasized the need for improving aircraft availability by consolidating the fleet into larger squadrons or wings.
In addition to Sens. Warner and Kaine, the letter was signed by Reps. Bobby Scott, Robert Wittman, Gerry Connolly, Morgan Griffith, Don Beyer, A. Donald McEachin, Ben Cline, Elaine Luria, Abigail Spanberger, Denver Riggleman, and Jennifer Wexton.
"We think we've got a strong case to be made for Langley," said retired Rear Admiral Craig Quigley, who heads the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance. "The First Fighter Wing, the 633rd, they know they can accommodate these guys and they welcome it. They are embraced by the community. They love the good weather all the time, which allows them to fly and train much more than a place with crummy weather."
Quigley says the move would be good not only for the Air Force and the 600-800 personnel that would come here, but it would be a good thing for Langley.
"You want to maximize the efficiency and utility of Langley, period," he said. "And if the Congress ever does do another BRAC, you want them to take a look at Langley and say that is an indispensable installation. This makes all the sense in the world."
The other two choices for home-basing are Alaska and Hawaii.