On Aug. 9, airmen at Dover AFB, Del., will begin a major inspection of the first C-5 transport to be handled under a new inspection program that, if successful, would make more C-5s available for use every day fleet-wide and could save the Air Force more than $1 billion over the next two decades. “We’re crossing major commands and working with Guard, Reserve, and active duty to make a fleet-wide change,” said Capt. Edward DeFalcon of Dover’s 105th Maintenance Squadron. In the past, C-5s would go to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia, every five years for a complete overhaul, and each C-5 base would perform its own minor inspections. Under the new regime, a C-5 will enter the depot process only once every eight years. In between, on 16-month increments, there will be two minor inspections of every C-5, conducted at selected ANG and Reserve bases, followed by a major inspection at Dover for every C-5, and then two more minor inspections before each C-5 arrives at the depot for overhaul. (Dover report by SSgt. Chad Padgett)
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.