Tinker AFB

[Pete]

Here's a quick-and-dirty aerial. I'll add more detail later:

[Jeepnokc]

Here's a quick-and-dirty aerial. I'll add more detail later:

Dang...that was quick

[adaniel]

This is fantastic news.

I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to Tinker stuff. Is this independent of the 900 jobs with Boeing?

[Pete]

Yes, completely separate from Boeing.

And there are some other recent big job creation projects out there as well.

Even though Tinker is by far bigger, we have kind of a two-headed economic monster with Tinker on one end of I-40 and Hobby Lobby (and tons more light manufacturing and distribution) as the other end.

[Zuplar]

Is there anything going on at the GM plant?

[adaniel]

Yes, completely separate from Boeing.

And there are some other recent big job creation projects out there as well.

Even though Tinker is by far bigger, we have kind of a two-headed economic monster with Tinker on one end of I-40 and Hobby Lobby (and tons more light manufacturing and distribution) as the other end.

Great. I was getting a little worried about TAFB, with all the defense cuts that were occurring last year. Excited to hear what's in the pipeline.

[Pete]

Is there anything going on at the GM plant?

Yes, it's full of Tinker-related industry.

Oklahoma County acquired it in 2008 and leases it out to Tinker.

A couple of years ago, it was reported Building 9001 (as it's now called) employs over 1,600 and that was only at 60% capacity. I believe it's fuller now.

[Pete]

More:

Building 9001 (Tinker Aerospace Complex)
Originally known as the Tinker Aerospace Complex housed in the former General Motors Oklahoma City Assembly Plant located west of the runway on the south side of the base, north of I-240. A 50-year lease-purchase agreement was executed in September 2008 between Oklahoma County and the Air Force, covering the 2.5 million square foot (353,000 m²) facility and 407-acre (1.65 km2)

Previously, the largest single building at the base was Building 3001 at 1,300,000 square feet (120,000 m2)

Tinker has leased about 4/5 of the facility and will host some current 76th Maintenance Wing operations as well as other Department of Defense missions, including work on the C-17 engines, joint strike fighter engines and core work on the new KC-46 tanker. Work being transferred to the complex is currently being done at 69 separate facilities on base, many of which are World War II-era temporary buildings located in runway clear zones. Burlington Northern Santa Fe provides a rail spur into the complex.

[Zuplar]

Good to know, Tinker is huge.

[onthestrip]

The Quality Jobs Act was changed to allow for state assistance on this. Not sure the specifics but we did give some tax payer money away to land this.

[Jeepnokc]

The Quality Jobs Act was changed to allow for state assistance on this. Not sure the specifics but we did give some tax payer money away to land this.

Probably money well spent as TAFB is a huge employer and this will bring in more jobs. I appreciate everything our elected officials are doing to make TAFB vital and strong in case another round of closures happen.

[Pete]

The Chamber lists Tinker as employing 27,000 (!) and that does not include Boeing or the latest round of new jobs.

That represents an incredible economic engine.

[catch22]

They are also very well paying government jobs.

It's not 27,000 $10 an hour workers.

[adaniel]

Probably money well spent as TAFB is a huge employer and this will bring in more jobs. I appreciate everything our elected officials are doing to make TAFB vital and strong in case another round of closures happen.

I detest Jim Inhofe, but the dude hustles for Tinker. The base has had more close calls then people realize; the lobbying on his (and others) part has made a big difference.

[Jeepnokc]

I detest Jim Inhofe, but the dude hustles for Tinker. The base has had more close calls then people realize; the lobbying on his (and others) part has made a big difference.

Get out of my head!! I was going to post that also as it relates to Jim Inhofe as he has done a lot for our local bases and I detest him as well. Our local gov't has done well also making sure the base was as safe as possible by buying what they need and also clearing out obstacles.

[warreng88]

From the JR:

Refueling the economy: City, county combine to buy land for Tinker expansion

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record February 4, 2015

OKLAHOMA CITY – Tinker Air Force Base accepted title Wednesday to 158 acres of a former Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. rail yard that once served a General Motors plant.

U.S. Air Force officials said they will use the land to build a depot maintenance facility for the military’s next big aerial refueling aircraft, the KC-46A Pegasus, with the first plane expected to move through by 2018.

The Oklahoma City municipal government purchased the BNSF yard in order to deed the land over to the base, bringing a nearly decade-long redevelopment project to a close. General Motors shut down its sport-utility vehicle assembly line at the plant in 2006, eliminating about 2,500 union jobs. The building remained vacant until 2008, when the board of Oklahoma County commissioners asked residents to approve a $55 million bond issue to purchase the property and lease it to Tinker.

To purchase the rail yard, the Oklahoma City municipal government contributed $23.5 million, and Oklahoma County put up $12.5 million. The Air Force paid $8 million. Cathy O’Connor, president of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, said the investment will help revitalize economic development in the area.

“This truly does bring it full circle,” said Bonnie Cheatwood, executive director at the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce. “There’s no way this couldn’t have a huge economic impact. It’s going to bring 1,300 jobs, to say nothing of spinoff interests. You’ll have other companies moving here, generating more jobs and residents.”

Cheatwood said she expects that the business conference Tinker & the Primes held annually in Midwest City will be too large to handle this year because of the new business the new depot will attract.

The KC-46A is intended to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers, the primary refueling aircraft for more than 50 years. Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield said that since the aircraft was introduced, Tinker has been home to the majority of KC-135 sustainment and maintenance. The modernized KC-46A replacement tanker will extend the global reach of the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

“It’s safe to say that supporting the KC-46 represents the bedrock for the next 50 years,” Litchfield said.

[BrettM2]

It'll be interesting to see how the jobs stack up when they begin phasing out the KC-135 work (which may be a long, long time down the road). I know, when I left two years ago, they were just starting an engine upgrade for the KC-135 that would take it into the mid-2030s and end the need for programmed maintenance before they retired the jet. It'll be interesting to see that status when I return next week.

[ljbab728]

http://www.okctalk.com/general-civic...inker-afb.html

[ljbab728]

http://newsok.com/air-force-formally...rticle/5390541

The Air Force cemented a lucrative and long-term commitment to Tinker Air Force Base and the local community on Wednesday, officially accepting land on which to build the repair center for the next generation of aerial refueling planes.



At a ceremony at Tinker, Air Force officials took possession of the 158-acre site that was once a BNSF rail yard. State and local officials worked with the Air Force to acquire the land, which is on the west side of the base. The $44 million purchase price was shared among the Air Force, Oklahoma County and Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County provided a combined $36 million to enable the land acquisition but will get some of that money back from the state’s Quality Jobs Program.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, Rep. Tom Cole, Mayor Mick Cornett comment on Tinker Air Force Base expansion | NewsOK.com

[ourulz2000]

This is great news coming off what looked to be a possible downturn of the economy in OKC with the price of oil.

[bombermwc]

Pete, you mention a rail line, but I don't think the intent is to use the rail at all. Remember Tinker has worked to remove rail access into the base everywhere it has ever existed. Even the north side that was used into the 90's was ripped out over the highway and 29th. Personally, I hope the BNSF lines do NOT get used either. I'd LOVE to see the rail crossings along 74th pulled out and graded over. Maybe then, they would finally be able to make Sooner's crossing not a roller coaster.

[bombermwc]

Now please please please rip out the rail line along 74th!

[Zorba]

This is fantastic news.

I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to Tinker stuff. Is this independent of the 900 jobs with Boeing?

As has been previously answered, this is separate from the Boeing jobs. A huge chunk of the Boeing jobs will actually be for support on aircraft not maintained at Tinker, such as the B-2 and the Wedgetail. In fact 50 extra jobs for the C-17 were just announced this week, the announcement also seemed to suggest there may be more movement of C-17 positions to OKC.

The being said Boeing is designing/building the KC-46. Sustainment will likely mostly stay in Seattle for awhile, but placing the depot maintenance at Tinker strongly increases the chances of that work moving to OKC, which could be another 250+ jobs.

Pete: It'd be nice if we could get a Boeing article/thread going. With the 900 positions announced last year, already more this year, the massive expansion of the parking lot and talk of building a new labs building and/or another office building. I've heard the lot north of Boeing (green on your map) is where the new labs building is going, but am not sure, there has been a lot of dirt work over there recently.

[ljbab728]

Pete: It'd be nice if we could get a Boeing article/thread going.

http://www.okctalk.com/businesses-em...60-boeing.html

[metro]

This is great news coming off what looked to be a possible downturn of the economy in OKC with the price of oil.

Don't assume the oil debacle is over, just because of temporary gains, doesn't mean we won't see a downward trend for awhile. For all our sake, I hope I'm wrong.