Posted by Wade (71.68.90.211) on July 01, 2010 at 17:58:44:
In Reply to: "Smokey Buys 'em, Air Force Flys 'em!" posted by FYI on June 20, 2010 at 11:16:58:
Although there are examples of this in the Guard 130 fleet most aircraft migrate to Guard DOD ownership after time. NOAA has a couple of Ski 130s that are flown by the NYANG at the ice caps. However, DoD, in my opinion, will move to take ownership from the start. NorthCom has from its conception sought mission specific resources. This is not the problem however, after a career in the guard and many years in suto fire fighting/MAFFS, I came to realize the folly of IA as an additional duty of a military aviator. Simply put the war time tactical mission puts so many requirements on the average crew member that currency/proficiency has suffered. Also putting a 40 million dollar airplane on a single mission instead of multiple ones is just not cost effective. Therefor as I have stated previously, DoD owned Civilian shared/contracted is a better idea. Rotate the aircraft around yearly and make 10 to 15 available each year from the DoD system. USFS own the MAFFS 2 units in large numbers to roll on. Couple these with the augmented Guard MAFFS2 and you have a nice LAT system upgrade. Training could be contracted by companies through DoD with experienced civilian operators/crews. USFS owning 130Js was/is and will be, too few and way too costly! IA as an additional duty of a war fighter is a disaster waiting to happen as well. Thoughts?