Air Force Budget
Potential for Reducing Requirements and Funding for Aircraft Spares Gao ID: NSIAD-88-90BR February 18, 1988In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed potential reductions to the Air Force's fiscal year (FY) 1988 funding request for aircraft replenishment spares.
GAO found that: (1) the Air Force over $2.4 million for aircraft replenishment spares in its FY 1988 budget request; (2) the Department of Defense (DOD) reduced the funding request by $348.7 million for peacetime spares and $453.6 million for wartime spares; (3) about 79 percent of the peacetime reductions involved spare parts for the B-1 bomber and F-100 engine; and (4) DOD initially reduced B-1 bomber funding by $366 million, but later restored an estimated $253.5 million without explanation. GAO also found that the Air Force: (1) could reduce by over $1.2 million its funding request for non-recurring issue and other additive spares because it had overstated the requirements; (2) FY 1988 requirements were over $1.6 million less than its budgeted requirement; and (3) experienced substantial shortfalls in obligating prior years' appropriations for aircraft replenishment spares.