The skies over Davis-Monthan Air Force Base will look a little bare in coming weeks.
Scores of military jets are about to be relocated to the city's civilian airport to make way for a $4.7 million runway repair project at the defense installation.
About 50 A-10 attack jets normally based at D-M instead will operate out of Tucson International Airport from late March to late April, a base official said.
Several types of C-130 aircraft also will be sharing TIA's runways, along with Customs and Border Protection planes assigned to D-M.
Helicopters based at D-M, which don't need as much room to take off and land, will not have to be relocated during runway work.
D-M and TIA have a reciprocal agreement to share runway space when major repairs are being made at one site or the other. But it doesn't happen that often.
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"The last time this kind of maintenance was performed was about 10 years ago," said D-M spokeswoman Capt. Mary Pekas.
"Similar to road surfaces, runways wear down with regular use by our aircraft."
D-M personnel will provide additional security for the Air Force planes while they are bedded down at TIA
TIA spokeswoman Paula Perino said the military jets are expected to start arriving around March 23.
They'll be stationed along TIA's west ramp, on the same side as Pima Community College's aviation-technology program , she said.
Residents near TIA may notice some changes in noise levels and flight activity while the military jets are in the neighborhood, Perino said.
Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at calaimo@azstarnet.com or at 573-4138.
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