Some 45 aircraft operated by the US Air Force Academy have been grounded for safety issues. An Academy maintenance contractor was found to have some discrepancies in their record-keeping of USAFA aircraft, described as "contractor maintenance irregularities" during a January 9th investigation, causing the Air Force to issue a grounding order until the matter can be properly investigated.

Academy staffers indicate that the order will remain in place until an investigation is conducted and completed, "Academy officials will keep affected aircraft on the ground until confidence is restored in the safety of the maintenance program and permanent fixes are in place for all discrepancies identified."

The contractor, Doss Aviation, of Colorado Springs has ordered an internal audit of its operations but was unwilling to comment on the matter when ANN contacted them Tuesday morning.

The matter came to light when an Air Force UV-18 Twin Otter was forced down by engine failure enroute to Florida to pick up cadets engaged in a parachuting competition. The aircraft, crewed only by its pilots, executed an emergency landing at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma.

The USAF order affects the UV-18s of the 98th Flight Training Squadron, TG-10B\C\D unpowered gliders and TG-14 motorgliders of the 94th FTS, and T-41s and Cessna 150s of the 557th FTS. Some aircraft maintained by a different entity remain cleared for flight operations.

Introductory flight training conducted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University continues under the supervision of the 557th FTS. This mission is conducted in DA-20 aircraft maintained by university employees. IFT is a required prerequisite for all Air Force pilot training candidates.

FMI: www.usafa.af.mil, www.dossaviation.com