The Air Force Can Improve Its Forecasts of Aircraft Spare Parts Requirements

Gao ID: NSIAD-85-2 November 19, 1984

GAO evaluated the Air Force's methods for developing and applying flying hour program ratios in estimating future requirements for consumable spare parts for aircraft.

The Air Force forecasts spare parts requirements by calculating the ratio of future flying hours to past flying hours for an aircraft using a specific part and then applying this ratio to the historical demand for the part. GAO found that the Air Force is overestimating its need for parts for some aircraft which are being phased down or phased out and, at the same time, underestimating its need for parts for some aircraft with increasing flying hour programs. As a result, the Air Force may spend millions of dollars for parts before they are needed or which may not be needed but fail to purchase those spare parts which are needed.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: Harry R. Finley Team: General Accounting Office: National Security and International Affairs Division Phone: (202) 512-5187


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