Air Force May Close Runways at Plant 42

Facing budget shortfalls, the Air Force is considering closing down its runways at Plant 42, the production center that manufactures many of the military’s most sophisticated aircraft.

Air Force Lt. Col. Celeo Wright said runway crews could be removed by summer because health and benefit costs are eating into the budget. The problems were compounded earlier this year when NASA moved its space shuttle maintenance work to Florida. That could cost Plant 42 roughly $1 million next year, Wright said.

The runways are used primarily to fly finished aircraft to other bases. Wright said military flights would continue if the runway crews were eliminated.

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