European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 11, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday june 11, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 11 v -.v5 v i Sas Ken George Lajos Field in the azores provides a vital refuelling Point for aircraft such As those heading to the Middle East. Improvement projects arc to include the control Tower at  Force s mid Atlantic Gas station upgraded  Cruger Mediterranean Bureau Lajes Field azores the air Force is conducting operations As usual at this important mid Atlantic support facility despite a Cloud hanging Over its future. The air Force the main american Force at Lajes has a number of modernization projects under Way there. Others Are in the Mill. A the situation militarily is status quo As far As we Are concerned. We have a functional relationship with our hosts a said air Force col. Robert j. Pyeatt chief of staff of . Forces azores and vice commander of the 65th support Wing at Lajes. Pyeatt said the air Force is waiting to hear when the next round of negotiations will take place Between the United states and Portugal Over the future of Lajes. An agreement Between the two countries governs the bases use by the United states. It formally expired in february of 1991 but is considered to still be in effect by both nations Pyeatt said. The last negotiations concerning Lajes were held in Washington on Jan. 12, and no further talks have been scheduled Pyeatt said. The negotiations have stumbled Over the amount of compensation requested by Portugal and what form that compensation should take according to news reports. Lajes Field started by the British in 1943 on the Island of Terceira is actually portuguese air base no. 4 under portuguese command. However space is leased to the United states. American interest in the base is obvious because its location a 850 Miles from Lisbon Portugal and 2,200 Miles from new York City. Important planes refuelled at Lajes can continue non Stop As far As the Middle East. Lajes has been called a the essential link a a the biggest Gas station in the world and a the worlds largest aircraft  the base has served As an extremely important refuelling Point during International conflicts Over the years. In 1973, Lajes played Host to 1,000 american planes during an Airlift in support of Israel in its War against Egypt and Syria. More recently Lajes played an enormous role supporting aircraft during operations desert shield and storm. The base is Home to the air forces largest base level fuel storage facility with a capacity of 96 million Gallons. How important is Lajes to the United states a obviously they High ranking planners feel there is a strategic importance a Pyeatt said. Adm. Leon a. Edney supreme Allied commander Atlantic and commander of . Atlantic come reiterated the bases importance in a recent interview with a Lisbon newspaper. A for us the Basic strategic importance of Lajos remains the same. Lajes has been and continues to be a support facility. It is an important logistics support location for aircraft refuelling Between the . And Europe. Its strategic importance therefore remains intact a Edney was quoted Pyeatt As saying. A we Are negotiating and if we come to an agreement we have a base. If we done to we leave like we left the Philippines in december a Edney told the paper. While . Navy and army units at Lajes Are either going through or will soon be hit by major draw Downs in personnel strength the air Force there expects no major reduction in strength. A on the air Force Side we Only expect to lose a few Security police a said Pyeatt a native of Santa Cruz Calif. Pyeatt said the 65th support Wing serves an average of 315 transiting aircraft each month. Nearly All arc american though some arc military planes from other nato nations. The air Force is currently upgrading the fuel distribution system for aircraft at Lajes. The first phase of the $18.2 million project is expected to be completed by july and the entire upgrade by the end of the year Pyeatt said. A it the upgrade will allow us to refuel wide body aircraft quicker and More reliably and will increase our Mission effectiveness a Pyeatt said. Other work scheduled at Lajes includes a $1.6 million improvement to the Airfield lighting system a new $7.5 million sewage treatment Plant and a $1.2 million modernization of the control Tower. These Days air Force personnel con be Pei statute 898 of the 1,315 . Military personnel stationed on Terceira. . Civilian employees number More than 100, and the total . Population including dependents is 4,334. The department of defense also employs 1,285 portuguese civilians at Lajos. A amps Kan Gorga the commissary at Lajos Field azores boasts a modern design and much of the base housing is along the Atlantic oceans Edge