STUDY AIMS TO LAND FIGHTER; PLANT 42'S TOP-OF-LINE FACILITIES TO BE TOUTED.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

The availability of an aerospace-savvy work force and a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant will be the major drawing points cited to lure the $750 billion Joint Strike Fighter program to Palmdale, local and state officials said Monday.

A $25,000 study financed by the city of Palmdale and the state Trade and Commerce Agency will show the benefits of building the jets in Palmdale. Officials hope to convince the two aerospace giants competing for the project, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, to take another look at building the airplanes at Air Force Plant 42's Site 4.

``What we are looking to do is show that California can be cost-effective,'' said Judy Turner, regional director for the state Trade and Commerce Agency. ``This is the first study we have done for the aerospace industry.''

Factors the study will highlight include Plant 42's Site 4, which was built for the B-2 stealth bomber program, now winding down. The facility is geared specifically for the production of stealth aircraft, has state-of-the-art environmental controls, and an automatic inventory system.

``We have the most modern facility anywhere in the world,'' said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford.

The region also has a ready pool of thousands of aerospace workers, including workers who have security clearances.

The study is being conducted by SDS International, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm.

Once completed, the study will be sent to Rep. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, whose district includes Plant 42, and other California congressional representatives.

The hope is that California's congressional delegation can put enough heat on the Pentagon and the two contractors to make them do a cost comparison between Palmdale and the two preferred production sites - Ft. Worth for Lockheed Martin and St. Louis for Boeing.

Antelope Valley officials are trying to lure as much work on the joint strike fighter program as possible to the region. At stake is the last great military aircraft production program on the horizon - a value of $750 billion to $1 trillion over the life of the program.

The Pentagon plans to buy more than 3,000 joint strike fighter aircraft to replace the Air Force F-16, the Navy FA-18, and the Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier.

In addition, the British Royal Navy also is looking to acquire the aircraft.

Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster, who urged the Trade and Commerce Agency to help finance the study, said the effort is just one of many steps being taken by the region to lure the JSF program to the Antelope Valley.

Other efforts coming up will include conducting tours of Site 4 for new Trade and Commerce Agency officials and for California union leaders.

Before being sent to Congress, the study will be reviewed by an Antelope Valley Board of Trade committee.

That committee is comprised of Alis Clausen, Southern California Edison's regional director; William Cleary, a Northrop Grumman executive; Dennis Sellers, director of Antelope Valley College's aerospace training center; Phil Brady, an aerospace consultant for the city of Lancaster; Lt. Col. Bob Catlin, commander of Plant 42; Carrie Rogers, who heads Palmdale's foreign trade zone and enterprise zone programs; and Turner.

While the study is geared at the JSF program, it can be used to pursue other programs down the line.