Legislation would modernize C-130 aircraft

VIENNA

Legislation aimed at modernizing the nation’s fleet of C-130H cargo and troop transport planes, cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, could bode well for the future of the 910th Airlift Wing, which flies C-130s out of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

The C-130s need upgrades by 2020 to meet federal and international standards to be able to continue performing national security and emergency response missions without a costly overhaul, said Brown, chairman of Senate’s Air Force Caucus.

He said the bipartisan Air Force C-130H Fleet Modernization Act would give the Air Force flexibility to modernize its C-130H fleet, which in Ohio is also flown by Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield.

The proposed bill would allow the Air Force to use a less expensive communication and navigation overhaul without sacrificing safety and effectiveness, said Brown, D-Cleveland.

For more on this story, please see Wednesday's Vindicator, or vindy.com.