US flying hours are back....Until October

[thewalkingNICK]

7/15/2013 - JOINT BASE LANGELY-EUSTIS, Va. -- Combat Air Forces units from multiple commands will begin flying again July 15 after many stopped flying in April of this year due to sequestration.

The restored flying hour program represents $208 million of the $1.8 billion reprogramming allocation authorized by Congress. The money re-instates critical training and test operations for the CAF fleet across the Air Force for the remainder of FY13. This impacts not just Air Combat Command units, but also CAF units assigned to United States Air Forces Europe and Pacific Air Forces.

For ACC, the restored flying hours will be allocated to combat aircraft and crews across the command's operational and test units, including the Air Warfare Center's Weapons School, Aggressors and the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team.

While the return to the skies means a return to crucial training and development for pilots, navigators, flight crews, mission crews and maintainers, the leader of the Air Force's CAF fleet cautions that this is the beginning of the process, not the end.

"Since April we've been in a precipitous decline with regard to combat readiness," said Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command. "Returning to flying is an important first step but what we have ahead of us is a measured climb to recovery."

"Our country counts on the U.S. Air Force to be there when needed--in hours or days, not weeks or months," General Hostage said. "A fire department doesn't have time to 'spin up' when a fire breaks out, and we don't know where or when the next crisis will break out that will require an immediate Air Force response."

The restoration of flying hours only addresses the next two and half months of flying up until October 1.

"This decision gets us through the next several months but not the next several years," the general said. "While this paints a clearer picture for the remainder of FY13, important questions remain about FY14 and beyond. Budget uncertainly makes it difficult to determine whether we'll be able to sustain a fully combat-ready force."

Additionally, the restoration comes at a cost to future capability, including reduced investment in the recapitalization and modernization of the combat fleet.

"We are using investment dollars to pay current operational bills, and that approach is not without risk to our long-term effectiveness," General Hostage said. "We can't mortgage our future. America relies on the combat airpower we provide, and we need to be able to continue to deliver it."
http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123355835

[Macc]

How long till people ask for US elements at RIAT..

[thewalkingNICK]

How long till people ask for US elements at RIAT..

At least we know the Thunderbirds are free this weekend

[capercaillie]

So are we going to get anything American at RIAT?

I make that 9 minutes.

[Chrisse]

You beat the RIAT section by a full 12 minutes!

[boff180]

Haha I would say the show with the highest chance of getting something that has tilt rotors on static is now Leuchars

[Brevet Cable]

Would that explain why one of the Mildenhall CV-22s was out & about today , then ??

[Monty]

Lakenheath are busy today, lots of F-15 action over the house. It has been missed!

[138EAW]

Would that explain why one of the Mildenhall CV-22s was out & about today , then ??

Not really, AFSOC didn't appear to affected to the levels like USAF / USAFE etc were. 352nd SOG have been pretty much flying as usual throughout sequestration. The only activity that appears reduced is / was air refuelling. They are probably getting more confidence in the CV-22 and stretching it's legs to STANTA and Sculthorpe

[Petedcollins]

I was speaking to an F15 pilot from lakenheath a couple of weeks ago, he confirmed to me that they have been given funds for some flying.

He was quite relieved as he has been here 4 months and aside from time in the simulator he hasn't flown yet.

That said he told me they have been given 5 hours a month each at the moment