Modifications to USAF KC-135 tanker aircraft at Fairchild AFB, Wash., will bring 28 new jobs and $2 million in economic impact to the Spokane area, reports the Spokesman Review.com. The workers—13 full-time Air National Guardsmen and 15 Boeing personnel—will install mechanical brakes on the aircraft’s stabilizer trim system. To create the 13 Air Guard positions, the Washington ANG’s 141st Air Refueling Wing plans to convert some current part-time positions—the traditional weekend warrior type spots—to full-time positions.
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.