Wed, Jan 14, 2004
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.
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