There’s something odd about the Air Force’s just released 2008 unfunded priority list and its two latest supplemental funding requests—they duplicate requests for some aircraft. Air Force spokesperson Maj. Dayan Araujo confirmed yesterday that the UPL and the 2007 spring supplemental and 2008 global war on terror supplemental include requests for the same 20 C-130Js. Araujo explained in response to query that USAF “used the UPL to re-emphasize this high priority need to Congress.” She went on to say the same applies to five CV-22s that are found in the UPL and 2008 supplemental. Again, it was a case of “reinforcing the urgency of this requirement,” said Araujo.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
