New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce says he hopes Germany changes its mind and keeps a pilot training operation at Holloman Air Force Base but that he's already working on filling the void that the Luftwaffe's departure will leave at the Alamogordo installation.
Pearce says his office is working with local officials and the U.S. military to find alternative missions for Holloman.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports that the Luftwaffe will end its mission training German pilots in Tornado aircraft by 2019 due to budget constraints. The German pilots have been a presence at Holloman since 1992.
Pearce says Holloman has many things going for it, including good flying weather, strong community support and training ranges that mimic terrain across the globe.
Information from: Alamogordo Daily News.
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