FEINSTEIN, MCKEON JOIN FORCES; PAIR ASSAIL PLAN TO MOVE FLIGHT CENTER.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein joined Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon in urging the Air Force to abandon an idea of placing the Flight Test Center at Edwards under the command of a Florida base.

In a joint letter dated Tuesday, the Democratic senator and the Republican congressman from Santa Clarita urged Secretary of the Air Force Sheila Widnall to drop the idea of creating a new division called the Proving Command by placing the Flight Test Center under the control of Eglin Air Force Base.

If there is any consolidation, it should involve bringing test activities to Edwards, the two wrote.

``We urge you to fully consider Edwards Air Force Base as the location for the consolidated flight testing command. It seems only logical that the headquarters of these activities should be where the Air Force conducts over 80 percent of its flight tests,'' the letter said.

``We hope that any decision on where to locate this new Proving Command be delayed until Edwards Air Force Base is given equal and fair consideration.''

There was no immediate response to the letter Tuesday.

The Air Force has acknowledged having ``very preliminary discussions at Headquarters Air Force levels'' about the idea of forming a Proving Command. However, the service said there is ``no discussion or intent to move any missions from Edwards Air Force Base.''

The Air Force statements have done nothing to relieve concerns by Antelope Valley representatives or base workers who are worried about the impact such a move would have on the valley's economy. Edwards has approximately 13,000 workers, making it the largest center of employment in the Antelope Valley.

Of that total, the Air Force Flight Test Center employs 3,632 military personnel and 2,899 government civilians.

State Sen. William ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale, has fired off letters to state and federal officials urging them to organize and kill the Eglin proposal.

In a May 15 letter to Gov. Pete Wilson, Knight argued that encroaching population growth and flat, unvaried terrain limit the Florida base's ability to conduct flight tests.

Eglin specializes in testing munitions, communication systems, computers and surveillance and reconnaissance gear. Edwards tests aircraft, electronic warfare gear and aviation electronics.

One Edwards worker, Dennis O'Keefe, a civilian government worker on the B-2 program, has set up a World Wide Web page to rally public support for Edwards. The Save Edwards Air Force Base site, http://www.ptw.com/saveeafb, has received over 430 responses. O'Keefe is hoping to get as many as 10,000 responses.