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National Guard projects seek hangar space and apron work; officials cite federal timing for aircraft decisions
Summary
The Nevada National Guard sought funding for a C-130 apron upgrade at Reno and a Chinook storage hangar at the Harry Reid Training Center; officials said federal timelines for aircraft and existing congressional project approvals shape urgency and cost shares.
Officials from the Nevada National Guard and state public works briefed the subcommittee on airfield and hangar projects that support aircraft storage, readiness and potential aircraft reassignments.
Brian Walker of State Public Works presented C06, a $9.2 million parking-apron expansion at Reno-Tahoe International Airport that would permit parking for eight C-130 aircraft. Alex Estrada, deputy base civil engineer for the 152nd Airlift Wing, said the project is tied to a forthcoming Air National Guard selection round for upgraded C-130J airframes. "We don't have a specific deadline, but the earlier we get it, the better place we'll be as far as being selected for the next round of C130Js," Estrada said, adding that the selection could occur in the next six to eight months.
The subcommittee also reviewed C29, a proposed 27,750-square-foot storage hangar for three CH-47 Chinook helicopters at the Harry Reid training center (Stead Airport) north of Reno. Jamie Ivy, deputy director for installations and environment for the Army National Guard, said the approved design and federal appropriations landscape shaped the proposed size and function. Ivy said the existing maintenance hangar stores two Chinooks and that combined with the proposed storage hangar the state would be able to shelter about five of seven Chinooks. "We currently have a maintenance hangar of 30,000 square feet. It can house up to 2 of the CH 47s... The addition of this storage hanger would be able to allow us to house 3 out of the total 7 that we have," she said.
Ivy and other speakers also clarified that Black Hawk helicopters have separate storage and that projects were pursued as separate congressional-approved efforts to address differing aircraft footprints.
Funding for the Chinook hangar was presented as $21.7 million total, with $5.7 million federal and $16 million state; the C06 apron project was presented as $9.2 million with $8.9 million federal and $235,000 state. Lawmakers asked about the durability of federal appropriations and contingencies if federal schedules shift; State Public Works staff said design is underway for some projects and that they would seek to complete construction within federal funding timelines when required.
The subcommittee did not vote. Officials said they would continue coordinating with federal partners, the State Treasurer and public-works designers to preserve eligibility for federal funds and to meet timing needs tied to aircraft-selection and congressional appropriations.
