ALBANY — U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are calling on the Air Force to replace a fleet of aging aircrafts at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, some of which are the only heavy airlift vehicles in the country capable of flying north to the Arctic and south to Antarctica.
The LC-130 Hercules (LC-130H) “Skibird” aircrafts operated by the 109th Airlift Wing at the base in Schenectady County are some of the only ski-equipped heavy airlift aircraft in the U.S. capable of traveling that distance. The skis allow the aircraft to land on snow and ice.
Launching their push, Gillibrand and Schumer sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Frank Kendall noting the aircrafts are nearing the end of their service life after having been in operation for more than 30 years.
“The LC-130H ‘Ski-Bird' planes at Stratton are unique and absolutely critical to our national interest in maintaining a critical presence and reach to the Arctic and Antarctic — but they are old and need replacing,” Schumer said in a statement. “This limits our brave pilots' and crewmembers' ability to do their jobs and threatens our national security. That is why we are launching this push to get the Air Force to replace these aging aircraft. These planes are used in everything from polar missions to scientific research, and are essential for maintaining America's leadership in the Arctic as we compete with countries like China and…
