The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was introduced over half a century ago, is often flown by crew members who are younger than the plane they are flying. And that peculiar arrangement is likely to continue into the foreseeable future, says a new report from the Congressional Research Service.
“The C-130 has been the cornerstone of the U.S. tactical airlift fleet since the late 1950s. Military planners believe that C-130 aircraft provide the United States an edge in achieving national goals. They provide a capability to rapidly deliver forces making conventional deterrence more effective and expanding the ability to provide humanitarian assistance. However, the fleet has aged with some current models being flown by aircrew younger than the aircraft they are flying. As the fleet ages, management issues arise with reduced reliability, obsolescence and reduced parts availability, and changing aviation rules that impact availability of airspace due to obsolete avionics capabilities,” the CRS report said.
See C-130 Hercules: Background, Sustainment, Modernization, Issues for Congress, June 24, 2014.
Other newly updated CRS reports on Navy force structure and related issues include the following.
Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy LX(R) Amphibious Ship Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy TAO(X) Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, June 25, 2014
We’re asking the U.S. government to release holds on Congressionally-appropriated funding for scientific research, education, and critical activities at the earliest possible time.
It is in the interests of the United States to appropriately protect information that needs to be protected while maintaining our participation in new discoveries to maintain our competitive advantage.
The question is not whether the capital exists (it does!), nor whether energy solutions are available (they are!), but whether we can align energy finance quickly enough to channel the right types of capital where and when it’s needed most.
Our analysis of federal AI governance across administrations shows that divergent compliance procedures and uneven institutional capacity challenge the government’s ability to deploy AI in ways that uphold public trust.