Another good sign for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station has emerged from the White House. President Barack Obama is funding a new mission for the air base in his proposed 2017 budget.
If approved, eight KC-135 Tankers will replace the current fleet of C-130 cargo planes.
"We were concerned about what might happen with those C-130's," admitted Niagara Military Affairs Council Chairman John Cooper. Upgrades for the current fleet had been delayed.
"With the new aircraft coming there's no concern about that. Those planes have already had those avionics improved."
Cooper says the Air Force's decision to transfer the KC-135's to Niagara Falls before possible Defense spending cuts in 2019 is also positive news for the base. With nearly 3,000 employees, it's one of the region's largest employers.