Challenging the Sacred Assumption: A Call for a Systemic Review of Army Aviation Maintenance
Abstract
In 2016, the Army Chief of Staff directed the formation of the Holistic Aviation Assessment Task Force (HAATF) to review all aspects of Army Aviation. The HAATF followed the 2013 Aviation Restructuring Initiative (ARI) that sought to maximize and protect the aviation modernization budget. The HAATF focused on leadership, readiness, training, maintenance and sustainment policy, and resources, to ensure the Combat Aviation Brigades were capable of operating in complex environments around the globe. ARI and the HAATF were the latest in a series of comprehensive reviews of Army Aviation over the past 20 years. Typically, these reviews are initiated by a significant shift in Army budgets and are focused on force structure, training, equipping and sustainment. Each study intends to optimize the force structure to achieve a balance between the modernization and operational budgets. Since 1994, Army Aviation force structures, training resources, available equipment and aircraft have changed significantly. Yet, none of these studies has produced the long-term efficiencies or affordability promised. The reason for this failure is the one thing that has not changed; how the Army maintains its aircraft.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1039755
Entities
People
- Richard A. Martin
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies