Inspections Completed On 60 Percent Of Fleet
Air Combat Command officials cleared a portion of the F-15 Eagle
A through D model aircraft January 9 for flying status, and
recommended a limited return to flight for Air Force units
worldwide following engineering risk assessments and data received
from multiple fleet-wide inspections.
The return to fly order and recommendation applies only to those
F-15 aircraft, about 60 percent of the total Air Force F-15 A
through D fleet, that have cleared all inspections and have met
longeron manufacturing specifications.
The order and recommendation follows more than two months of
stand-down actions after an Air National Guard F-15C aircraft
experienced catastrophic structural failure and broke apart in
flight during a basic fighter maneuver training sortie in Missouri
November 2.
"The priority in resuming operations for a portion of the F-15
fleet is the defense of our nation -- America deserves nothing
less," said Gen. John D.W. Corley, the Air Combat Command
commander. "Aircraft inspection results and counsel from both
military and industry experts have made me confident in the safety
of a portion of the fleet. As a result, I have cleared those F-15s
to return to fly."
The decision follows detailed
information briefed on January 4 to Air Combat Command from the Air
Force's F-15 systems program manager, senior engineers from Boeing
and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, as well as a briefing
received today from the Accident Investigation Board president.
The information included an analysis of the health of the Air
Force's F-15 fleet from findings from the November 2 mishap
investigation, maintenance inspections and actions completed and
taken to date as well as historical science and engineering trend
data from F-15 fleet management.
Inspections are more than 90 percent complete. Remaining
inspections have primarily focused on the forward longerons. The
longerons are a critical support structure.
Time compliance technical order inspections have discovered nine
other aircraft with longeron fatigue-cracks. Additionally,
approximately 40 percent of inspected aircraft have at least one
longeron that does not meet blueprint specifications.
Deviations in these longerons will be analyzed at the WR-ALC.
The analysis is expected to take approximately four weeks to
complete. Once the analysis is complete, ACC will be able to better
determine which aircraft will need further inspection, or repair,
before returning them to flight.