ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico’s congressional delegation is urging the Air Force to transfer some older combat search-and-rescue helicopters to the state National Guard when new models enter service with an active-duty unit at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque.
Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Steve Pearce and Ben Ray Lujan advocate shifting the HH-60G helicopters to the 150th Special Operations Wing, a Kirtland-based Guard unit that currently doesn’t have its own aircraft to operate.
The lawmakers also say the acquisition of new HH-60W helicopters by the active-duty 58th Special Operations Wing also operating other aircraft would pose challenges of having enough flight instructors hangar and classroom space.
People were interested in these podcasts
The delegation made their pitch in a letter to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, a former New Mexico congresswoman.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.