Airport fire service tied to 188th

As the fate of the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith continues to remain a source of speculation in the area, Fort Smith Regional Airport Director John Parker is not ready to join in.

"We're not going to speculate what the final outcome of all the proposed changes at the Air National Guard are. We will wait until those final decisions are made and see what the impact of those Department of Defense reductions mean to us," Parker told The City Wire on Mar. 8.

The possibility for a plan change is real. On the day Parker spoke to The City Wire, it was learned that a “council of Governors” with the National Governors Association would present a counter proposal to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta that included a plan to move F-16 fighter jets back to the 188th.

One of the most recognizable effects the loss of the 188th would bring to the airport pertains to firefighting service. The 188th now provides firefighting service at Fort Smith Regional, but if the Department of Defense does cut the mission, those jobs would no longer receive funding. As a result, the airport would have to provide its own firefighting service per the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

"The airport is responsible for its services currently, even though they (services) are currently provided under an agreement with the 188th. No one has told us that the 188th will be removed, and as long as they're here, (firefighting services) are provided," he said.

Parker continued: "We will be prepared to provide ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) services as required by the FAA no matter what. I will tell you this. What the 188th is capable of in equipment and personnel far exceeds what the FAA requirement actually is. But we'll know at the point in time when they announce what the specifics are for the decisions they've actually made."

When asked if the airport could attain a grant for any additional equipment associated with administering its own firefighting service, Parker said the required ARFF equipment would fall under the eligibility requirements of an AIP (Airport Improvement Program) plan.

"The federal government would fund that type of equipment, but not to the magnitude the Department of Defense can," Parker said.

Parker continued to voice his support for the 188th, and noted the Airport Commission did as well.

"We're (Airport Commission) in complete support of the 188th. In fact, at our last meeting, we passed a resolution to keep the fire mission here. You're out too far ahead of this thing. Whatever is decided, the decisions would not be effective Monday. And whatever happens, Fort Smith Airport will endeavor to meet the FAA requirements," Parker said.