CommunityEditor
08-12-2009, 09:06 PM
Crews for the C-27 Joint Cargo Aircraft could see heavier overseas rotations because of the cut in the number of C-27s the Air National Guard will receive, the component’s top officer said.
The Air Guard was supposed to receive 78 aircraft but now will get 38, said Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, director of the Air Guard, according to an Aug. 11 National Guard Bureau news release. About half of the 38 aircraft will be designated for duty overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan, said Wyatt, who added that operational requirements are not expected to decrease.
“[With 78 aircraft, it] allows you to have a lower crew ratio because you have more aircraft to rotate through theater and you have more crews,” he said.
Air Guard officials originally planned to have two crews assigned to each aircraft. Having fewer aircraft means that four crews will be assigned to each aircraft. Those crews, however, still have training requirements to meet, and with fewer C-27s available, crews from other C-27s may be bumped up in overseas rotations, according to information from the Guard.
These factors will result in higher flying hours on individual aircraft in order to keep up with operational and training requirements, and possibly higher maintenance requirements, as well.
“Because you’re going to be required to fly more hours, we’re probably going to have to look at increasing the amount of maintenance,” Wyatt said.
The C-27 is designated a joint aircraft to be used by the Air Force and Army. The first air crews are undergoing training.
The Air Guard was supposed to receive 78 aircraft but now will get 38, said Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, director of the Air Guard, according to an Aug. 11 National Guard Bureau news release. About half of the 38 aircraft will be designated for duty overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan, said Wyatt, who added that operational requirements are not expected to decrease.
“[With 78 aircraft, it] allows you to have a lower crew ratio because you have more aircraft to rotate through theater and you have more crews,” he said.
Air Guard officials originally planned to have two crews assigned to each aircraft. Having fewer aircraft means that four crews will be assigned to each aircraft. Those crews, however, still have training requirements to meet, and with fewer C-27s available, crews from other C-27s may be bumped up in overseas rotations, according to information from the Guard.
These factors will result in higher flying hours on individual aircraft in order to keep up with operational and training requirements, and possibly higher maintenance requirements, as well.
“Because you’re going to be required to fly more hours, we’re probably going to have to look at increasing the amount of maintenance,” Wyatt said.
The C-27 is designated a joint aircraft to be used by the Air Force and Army. The first air crews are undergoing training.