United States Army Fixed-Wing Divestiture Plan Analysis

The United States Army fixed-wing divestiture plan began taking place just over one year ago, and we have seen dramatic changes in personnel and aircraft due to the reorganization. Echo company alone has lost over 70% of its support personnel, 50% of its aviators, and over 50% of its aircraft in the first quarter of the last fiscal year. However, the units’ operation tempo has increased in missions 236% during the past fiscal year as compared to the year prior. Currently, the company has four UC-35’s and five C-12’s, and it is my job as the maintenance officer to manage the flight hours, maintenance requirements, and projected major inspections. All the while, providing a daily maintenance flow that ensures our company can provide the maximum daily assets to meet the increasing demand.
Traditionally, our UC-35 fleet has been used primarily for our Very Important Personnel (VIP) missions, while the C-12 fleet has assumed the workhorse cargo and troop transport missions. Initially, our fleet was flying our program flight hours, but within the last eight months, we have seen a dramatic increase in troop and cargo missions. Subsequently, our C-12’s has been flying nearly 120% of their allotted flight hours,
Understandably, General Officers prefer flying in the faster and better looking UC-35 jet, however by complying with every VIP request for a jet, we are continuously under flying the UC-35’s. Whereas, the C-12 is assumed to be a preferred cargo aircraft because of the payload capability, and yet most of the C-12 aircraft has less of a payload than the UC-35’s due to aircraft modifications and additions to avionics equipment. Hence, this assumption has led to a misunderstanding that has led to false reasoning when scheduling aircraft based on restrictions and limitations of the two