US Airshows cancelled (Updated)

[swingy]

I would expect this situation to resolve itself one way or another by the end of March. Note the full text says the Tbirds will continue training until April 1st when they will review given the then current fiscal situation. The US cannot go beyond the end of March without a budget of some sort as all federal government shuts down. As part of any budget deal the sequester will be removed or significantly amended. The worst case scenario is another continuation budget for a few months.

I have to wonder watching this unfold if the republicans are hell bent of self destruction. I know they dont want to close tax loop holes for the well off but the well off only have one vote the same as every joe soap and it is every joe soap that whoops and howls when they see the TBirds etc. The GOP is certainly not gaining any more votes through this.

[138EAW]

Bit more info regarding the Navy side of sequestration

This message was sent to all Navy and Marine units by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. On March 1, sequestration was enacted — necessitating the following actions:

DTG 022300Z Mar 13

FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
TO ALNAV
INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
CMC WASHINGTON DC
CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
ALNAV 014/13

MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/MAR//

SUBJ/DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY RESPONSE TO SEQUESTRATION//

RMKS/1. LAST NIGHT, BECAUSE NO BUDGET DEAL HAD BEEN REACHED, THE BUDGET CONTROL ACT REQUIRED SETTING IN MOTION THE AUTOMATIC, GOVERNMENT-WIDE CUTS KNOWN AS SEQUESTRATION. GIVEN THAT REALITY AND THE ASSOCIATED IMPACT OF BUDGETARY UNCERTAINTY IMPOSED BY AN INDEFINITE CONTINUING RESOLUTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY INTENDS TO COMMENCE SOME REDUCTIONS IMMEDIATELY.

2. NAVY PLANS TO:
A. SHUT DOWN CARRIER AIR WING TWO (CVW-2) IN APRIL. THIS WILL INITIATE THE PREPARATIONS TO GRADUALLY STAND-DOWN FLYING IN AT LEAST
THREE ADDITIONAL AIR WINGS WITH TWO MORE AIR WINGS BEING REDUCED TO MINIMUM SAFE FLYING LEVELS BY THE END OF THE YEAR;
B. DEFER USNS COMFORT HUMANITARIAN DEPLOYMENT TO CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, “CONTINUING PROMISE 2013″, INCLUDING SUPPORTING SHIPS,
SEABEES, AND MEDICAL UNITS;
C. CANCEL OR DEFER THE DEPLOYMENTS OF UP TO SIX SHIPS TO VARIOUS AORS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF APRIL;
D. LAY UP FOUR COMBAT LOGISTICS FORCE (CLF) UNITS IN PACOM STARTING IN APRIL;
E. RETURN USS SHOUP (DDG 86) TO HOMEPORT EARLY AND NOT PROCEED AS USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) ESCORT TO CENTCOM;
F. RETURN USS THACH (FFG 43) TO HOMEPORT EARLY FROM DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTHCOM.

3. WE WILL ALSO IMMEDIATELY:
A. BEGIN NEGOTIATING CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS TO DE-OBLIGATE EFFORTS FOR ANY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS FOR WHICH THE REMAINING UNOBLIGATED BALANCE WILL BE INSUFFICIENT AFTER THE SEQUESTRATION REDUCTION IS APPLIED. MAJOR PROGRAMS AFFECTED INCLUDE VIRGINIA-CLASS SSN ADVANCE PROCUREMENT, REACTOR POWER UNITS AND JOINT HIGH SPEED VESSEL (JHSV 10);
B. COMMENCE FINAL PLANNING TO SLOW MARINE CORPS DEPOT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING REDUCTIONS IN THE NON-PERMANENT WORKFORCE;
C. CANCEL MARCH INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT SCREENING FOR FUTURE PILOTS/NFOS;
D. ANNOUNCE INTENT TO CANCEL BLUE ANGELS SHOWS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 2013 [FOUR SHOWS: MACDILL AFB (TAMPA, FL), NAS CORPUS CHRISTI TX, VIDALIA GA, MCAS BEAUFORT SC];
E. CEASE NEW USMC ENROLLMENTS IN VOLUNTARY EDUCATION TUITION ASSISTANCE;
F. CANCEL MARCH NAVY RECRUITING MEDIA SUPPORT AND REDUCE THE MAJORITY OF ADVERTISING CONTRACTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE UNDER CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS.

4. THESE ACTIONS ARE BEING TAKEN TO PRESERVE SUPPORT FOR THOSE FORCES STATIONED OVERSEAS AND CURRENTLY FORWARD-DEPLOYED. REDUCTIONS IN LOWER-PRIORITY FORWARD OPERATIONS, AND SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN ALL OTHER OPERATIONS, TRAINING, AND MAINTENANCE ARE THE RESULTS OF THIS SELECTION PROCESS. WE MADE THESE CHOICES CAREFULLY, WHILE TRYING TO PRESERVE OUR ABILITY TO REVERSE OR QUICKLY RESTORE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IF AND WHEN FUNDING IS RESTORED.

5. ACTIONS WE HAVE TAKEN TO DATE WILL CONTINUE, TO INCLUDE THOSE AFFECTING THE DEFERRAL OF MAINTENANCE FOR USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72); THE DEFERRAL OF REPAIR WORK FOR USS MIAMI (SSN 755) AND USS PORTER (DDG 78); THE DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF USS HARRY S TRUMAN (CVN 75) AND USS GETTYSBURG (CG 64); THE CIVILIAN HIRING FREEZE; THE PLANNING FOR CIVILIAN FURLOUGHS; AND THE REDUCTION OF ALL TRAINING NOT RELATED TO THE READINESS OF DEPLOYED OR NEXT-TO-DEPLOY FORCES.

6. NAVY DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP UNDERSTANDS THE UNCERTAINTY THAT THESE AND OTHER DECISIONS CREATE BOTH AMONGST OUR PEOPLE AND IN THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY UPON WHICH WE RELY. THE LACK OF A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION TO AVOID SEQUESTRATION IS DEEPLY REGRETTABLE. THAT SAID, WE MUST ENDEAVOR TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION AS WE FACE IT, NOT AS WE WISH IT COULD OTHERWISE BE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR PEOPLE FOREMOST IN MIND, EVEN AS WE TRY HARD TO KEEP WHOLE THE FORCE STRUCTURE WHICH SUPPORTS THEM. WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO KEEP THE FLEET AND FLEET MARINE FORCE FULLY INFORMED AS FOLLOW-ON DECISIONS ARE MADE.

7. RELEASED BY RAY MABUS, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.//
BT

Info from Navy Life


Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) consists of


VFA- 2 Bounty Hunters F/A-18F Super Hornet
VFA-34 Blue Blasters F/A-18C Hornet
VFA-137 Kestrels F/A-18E Super Hornet
VFA-15 Vigilantes F/A-18C Hornet
VAW-113 Black Eagles E-2C Hawkeye
VAQ-131 Lancers EA-6B Prowler
VRC-30 Det. 2 Providers C-2A Greyhound
HSC-12Golden Falcons MH-60S Seahawk
HSM-77 Saberhawks MH-60R Seahawk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Air_Wing_Two

[parsley]

I cannot believe a bunch of politicians can't agree a deal when the cliff was looming. I really do hope voters punish them for this.

On a UK Airshow front, RIATs static line is going to look awfully empty without USAF heavies which is a massive shame. Even bigger shame is that many people will blame RIAT post show when this is something completely out of their hands.

Andy

Will RIAT go ahead given that they are using a USAF base ?

[Stealthy12]

Just a quick update:
Red Flag air combat training exercise at Nellis in July is close to being cancelled if sequestration isn't stopped.

[Ben H]

Just a quick update:
Red Flag air combat training exercise at Nellis in July is close to being cancelled if sequestration isn't stopped.

[Stealthy12]

Up to date press release also confirm this but i found this press release that gives a bigger insight to why it is under fire, this press release was before sequestration, but newer press releases confirm it is still under spotlight for possible cancellation. http://www.lvrj.com/news/without-defici ... 57761.html

"Earlier this month, Air Force leaders said they probably will have to cancel Red Flag air combat training exercises at Nellis starting in July and ground the Thunderbirds demonstration team in April under mandatory spending reductions.
Gen. Larry Spencer, the Air Force vice chief of staff, has said the impact on Air Force operational training this year would spring from a nearly 18 percent reduction in 1.2 million flight hours, or 203,000 flying hours for the fiscal year, which began Oct. 1.
Roughly half of those hours will have been flown by March 1, meaning the Air Force would have to cut 33 percent of this year's remaining operational training program.
It's unclear how such deep cuts in Air Force training would affect the more than $200 million spent annually on payrolls for companies that provide services at the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nellis and Creech, a hub for drone aircraft operations, 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Services provided by civilian workers range from janitorial to aircraft maintenance and target support."

[Luke28]

I cannot believe a bunch of politicians can't agree a deal when the cliff was looming. I really do hope voters punish them for this.

On a UK Airshow front, RIATs static line is going to look awfully empty without USAF heavies which is a massive shame. Even bigger shame is that many people will blame RIAT post show when this is something completely out of their hands.

Andy

Will RIAT go ahead given that they are using a USAF base ?

If RIAT does go ahead (fingers and toes crossed), I'm hoping the team at DBH be a little clever with the space available to them with the likely reduced static numbers. Just because they have a 2 mile static line does'nt mean that they have to use it all, surely closing parts of the base off that are usually used will be beneficial in these circumstances. I liken it to a football club that has a big stadium but rarely sells out (Villa being the perfect example, 43,000 capacity and average 33,000 crowds), theres nothing worse than seeing a stand with fans scattered all over the place and a sea of empty seats between them, I've never understood why they don't just close parts of the ground and get the open parts of the ground full.... Hope that comparison makes sense

[aviodromefriend]

If RIAT does go ahead (fingers and toes crossed), I'm hoping the team at DBH be a little clever with the space available to them with the likely reduced static numbers. Just because they have a 2 mile static line does'nt mean that they have to use it all, surely closing parts of the base off that are usually used will be beneficial in these circumstances.

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=49321:

[*] At the western end of the airfield there will be a new "Toys for Boys" area which will possibly include things like ride alongs in sports cars. This raised a good deal of concern about the loss of static space from the forum. Air Ops responded at this point to state that under no circumstances was the new feature being allowed to use any static space, they will not allow it.

I fear this thing will be allowed to take up static space now, due to the number of aircraft around.

I liken it to a football club that has a big stadium but rarely sells out (Villa being the perfect example, 43,000 capacity and average 33,000 crowds), theres nothing worse than seeing a stand with fans scattered all over the place and a sea of empty seats between them, I've never understood why they don't just close parts of the ground and get the open parts of the ground full.... Hope that comparison makes sense

If I have to choose between a 75% attendance over the complete stadium or 75% of all parts of the stadium completely filled, it is a no-brainer. 75% all over the complete stadium. the other option is just so sadmaking to see 25% of the parts completely empty... If you want to see how some complete empty parts look, there are some to be seen in the video here from about 8:30.

[swingy]

A Red Flag being cancelled has become the norm over the last few years so the July one being chopped is not a big surprise.

While the sequester is bad there is a reason a lot of the actual pain is delayed until post April 1 and that is to give the folks on the Hill a chance to get it sorted in the new budget that needs to be sorted by March 27th. I would not get too animated about RIAT until the actual budget is set late March. If they dont set a budget then the world has bigger problems. All these announcements just now are as much about positioning by the DoD and the President's cabinet as they are about what tehy really want to do. I would suggest we wait and see what plays out over the next 4 weeks.

[Stealthy12]

Good news is the Republicans don't want Defense to go through the cuts being put into force. Instead the Republicans have stated they only want cuts to Welfare.

Edit: Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/02/sequestration-cuts-barack-obama-republicans
"But Republicans want only cuts, on welfare rather than defence"

[Mike]

Fairchild AFB Skyfest (was to have been a Thunderbirds show) cancelled today

https://www.facebook.com/FairchildAFB?ref=stream

[Timc]

Just for info, the last display (possibly) for this year by the T'birds will be at the TICO Warbird Airshow in Titusville, Flordia which takes place 22/23/24th of this month. After that who knows?

The politicians on both sides up on the hill may well be having second thoughts so there's still hope for RIAT come July?

Difficult one to call as many political commentators in the States didn't think sequestration would ever go this far!

Only time will tell.

Cheers
Tim

[Fumbles]

As expected the F-22 demo for this weekends show at MCAS Yuma is now Cancelled. I thought only the shows after April 1 2013 were to be cancelled but it looks as if the demo team flew straight home to Langley from Australia and have now wrote off the March shows as well.
http://newpreview.afnews.af.mil/acc/aer ... hedule.asp

[Flare Path]

http://www.lima.com.my/GUI/pdf/LIMA'13List-of-Aircrafts.pdf

Suggests the USAF are sending a C-17 for display and the US Navy 2 static aircraft - P-3C Orion and SH 60B.

[swingy]

This is a trade show so I am pretty sure the maunfacturers will be supporting the costs in some way much the same as BAe will probably be supporting the phoon display.

[Flare Path]

This is a trade show so I am pretty sure the maunfacturers will be supporting the costs in some way much the same as BAe will probably be supporting the phoon display.

I'm sure you're aware it doesn't state anywhere in the PDF document, that the aircraft in question are supplied by their manufacturers - no. Quite the opposite. It actually states the C17 is being supplied and flown by the USAF and both Navy assets provided by the US Navy, including a mention to the Seventh Fleet. In addition, the Typhoon is being provided by the Royal Air Force and not BAE Systems - whilst it may be true they will cover some costs, we are not explicitly told that in the list of participating aircraft and it does quite clearly state next to it 'Royal Air Force' - not BAE, AgustaWestland, Boeing, Bell, Dassault and many others, which are being provided by their manufacturer, as you can quite clearly see.

There's also this...

AIR FORCE CUTS AVIATION SUPPORT AT PUBLIC EVENTS -- NEW INFORMATION. The Department of Defense has directed the Air Force, and all the services, to cancel aviation support to public events for at least the remainder of the fiscal year. Additionally, the Air Force will stand down the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team. Effective immediately, active-duty, Reserve and Guard units will cease all aviation support to the public. This includes the cancellation of support to all air shows, tradeshows, and flyovers (including funerals and military graduations). Additionally, the Air Force will cancel the Thunderbirds' entire 2013 season beginning April 1.

[Vodka]

I think many of you have overlooked possibly the worst case scenario with these cuts!

That being, wet burgers supplied by USAF personnel at RIAT west end P&V Friday may be cancelled ?

My sauce ? . . . . . my sauce. .my kingdom for some sauce.

[swingy]

This is a trade show so I am pretty sure the maunfacturers will be supporting the costs in some way much the same as BAe will probably be supporting the phoon display.

I'm sure you're aware it doesn't state anywhere in the PDF document, that the aircraft in question are supplied by their manufacturers - no. Quite the opposite. It actually states the C17 is being supplied and flown by the USAF and both Navy assets provided by the US Navy, including a mention to the Seventh Fleet. In addition, the Typhoon is being provided by the Royal Air Force and not BAE Systems - whilst it may be true they will cover some costs, we are not explicitly told that in the list of participating aircraft and it does quite clearly state next to it 'Royal Air Force' - not BAE, AgustaWestland, Boeing, Bell, Dassault and many others, which are being provided by their manufacturer, as you can quite clearly see.

There's also this...

AIR FORCE CUTS AVIATION SUPPORT AT PUBLIC EVENTS -- NEW INFORMATION. The Department of Defense has directed the Air Force, and all the services, to cancel aviation support to public events for at least the remainder of the fiscal year. Additionally, the Air Force will stand down the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team. Effective immediately, active-duty, Reserve and Guard units will cease all aviation support to the public. This includes the cancellation of support to all air shows, tradeshows, and flyovers (including funerals and military graduations). Additionally, the Air Force will cancel the Thunderbirds' entire 2013 season beginning April 1.

Using your arguement then we should expect these items and the PACAF F16 to cancel then.

[riatfuels]

I think many of you have overlooked possibly the worst case scenario with these cuts!

That being, wet burgers supplied by USAF personnel at RIAT west end P&V Friday may be cancelled ?

My sauce ? . . . . . my sauce. .my kingdom for some sauce.

The Aircraft Refuelling Team marches on what we call "safety burgers" ... this would indeed be a great loss ....

[swingy]

I think many of you have overlooked possibly the worst case scenario with these cuts!

That being, wet burgers supplied by USAF personnel at RIAT west end P&V Friday may be cancelled ?

My sauce ? . . . . . my sauce. .my kingdom for some sauce.

The Aircraft Refuelling Team marches on what we call "safety burgers" ... this would indeed be a great loss ....

Fear not. The USAF will be going all out for increased sales using the revenue to help fund a couple of rivets on their next F35.

[138EAW]

Cleveland Air Show due to be held August 31-September 2 has been cancelled today http://www.clevelandairshow.com/

Looking at the airshow schedule on milavia net makes pretty grim reading already, with no sign of a resolution yet

[KAM68]

The 99th ABW have just announced that Nellis AFB's Aviation Nation 2013 show has been cancelled

[rdchawk]

That's not a good sign considering Nellis is one of the last shows on the calender.

[Fumbles]

Well that is just a shame, Sunny November airshow weather is/was always the best way to finish the season.... I thought Aviation Nation was in the next fiscal year though?

[Mike]

I'm sure they're now working on the assumption that the T-birds are done for the year.