Cuts coming to Falls base revealed

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - The fate of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station no longer appears to be up in the air. But while the base has been spared so far, the 107th is getting its wings clipped.

On Friday, the secretary of the Air Force announced his agency would cut almost 10,000 jobs, with some reductions at the Air Reserve station in Niagara Falls. The base will lose three of its 11 C-130 cargo planes, the 107th Airlift Wing would lose its mission, and more than 800-full and part-time jobs could be affected.

Niagara Military Affairs Council (NIMAC) spokesman Merrell Lane said, "I guess the news could always be worse, but it's pretty severe in my thinking.

Lane admits the 107th Airlift Wing would need to find more work to keep jobs at the base.

"NIMAC has worked hard to try and find some other missions that the 107th is able to take over and continue to stay right here at Niagara," said Lane.

But there will be other facilities fighting to keep their own jos. Secretary Michael Donley says the new Air Force will be a smaller one.

"In order to protect a high quality and ready force that will continue to modernize and grow more capable in the future," said Donley.

The fate is worse for bases in Pittsburgh and Minnesota. If Congress approves the Air Force plan, those bases will close. Seven years ago, an appeal to Congress helped save the Falls base and Lane hopes Congress will listen to the people again.

He said, "Anything that we can, we can, influence through Congress - Congressional team is ready to work with us and have been for quite some time."

Many of the affected jobs are part-time positions. A news conference will be held at the airbase Saturday morning.