Air Reserve Forces

GAO evaluated the Air Force's actions and plans in transferring C-5 and C-141 aircraft from the active Air Force to the Air Reserve Forces (ARF) to determine how the Air Force was managing costs associated with such transfer.

GAO found that the conference committee for the Department of Defense (DOD) fiscal year 1984 appropriations act directed the Air Force to plan for transferring 36 C-141 aircraft to ARF. The Air Force recommended transferring C-5, as well as C-141 aircraft, to ARF because of the higher operational costs of the C-5 and the large peacetime role of the C-141 aircraft. GAO believes that ARF bases receiving new aircraft must acquire sufficient spare parts to preclude excessive grounding of aircraft; however, excessive spares will increase costs of storage and transportation and result in unnecessary or premature acquisitions. GAO found that the Air Force planned to establish a jet engine intermediate maintenance facility at Kelly Air Force Base (AFB) as part of the transfer of C-5 aircraft to three ARF units. The Air Force estimated the cost of facilities and support equipment at over $7 million. GAO also found that the Air Force plans to transfer an additional 64 C-141 aircraft to ARF in the 1990's. The Air Force estimated that the military construction cost for the transfer of the 16 C-141 and 44 C-5 aircraft will be $223.5 million, and the cost for ground support equipment will be $46.4 million. GAO believes that the Air Force needs to focus greater attention on the costs involved to ensure that such transfers are completed in the most cost-effective manner.

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.

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