Air Force Reserve Command’s 41st Aerial Port Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss., dedicated a new $8.5 million cargo-handling and operations building on the base. “The increased efficiencies associated with training and working in a purpose-built facility will not only benefit the 41st APS, but will be a direct benefit to the 403rd Wing” said squadron Commander Lt. Col. Michael Grubb at the Oct. 20 ribbon cutting. The Reserve wing is the squadron’s parent unit. Located directly on the flight line, the new facility will enable forklifts and K-loaders to shuttle pallets assembled indoors directly to transport aircraft, states Keesler’s Oct. 21 release. The two-story, 30,000 square-foot building includes office, classroom, and training space as well as a rolling floor for cargo preparation, and a rigging tower for air-drop parachutes, according to the release. The squadron supports Keesler’s C-130 airlifters and WC-130 weather reconnaissance aircraft. (Keesler report by TSgt. Ryan Labadens)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.