[NTIACNews]USAF Grounds C-130s

[Chris R. Coughlin]

Hello All,

On Friday last week the Air Force announced they were grounding C-130 
Hercules aircraft after wing inspections revealed more significant 
cracking than was expected.  Their press release follows.

***
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN)  -- Thirty E-model C-130 Hercules were 
grounded Feb. 10, and 60 other models including some E, H, H1 and 
HC-130P/N were placed on restricted flight status.

Gen. John W. Handy, commander of Air Mobility Command, directed the 
grounding and restricted flight status to minimize wing stress and 
increase the safety margin.

The aircraft were grounded after a recommendation by C-130 System 
Program Office officials at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Since 2001, a 
series of inspections of the center wing box structure revealed that 
were greater in number and severity that originally expected, they said.

Most of the aircraft affected are in AMC's inventory, but affected 
aircraft are also assigned to Air Education and Training Command, 
Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the Air National Guard 
and Air Force Reserve Command.

“Working together with the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command 
and our active-duty units, we are committed to meeting our requirements 
to warfighters around the world,” General Handy said.
***

The original release is available online at 
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123009806 .  You can get more 
info on the C-130 from the USAF's page at 
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=92 .  Additional info is 
available from http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/c-130.htm .

Regards,
Chris

-- 
Chris Coughlin / NTIAC / 415 Crystal Creek Drive / Austin TX 78746
Phone (800)684-2239 or (512)263-2101x227 / FAX (512)263-3530
Email ccoughlin@ntiac.com / Web http://www.ntiac.com