Mon, Dec 17, 2007
39 Orions Affected, May Be Down For Two Years
Nearly one-quarter of
the Navy's fleet of P-3C Orion survelliance aircraft were grounded
Monday, over concerns about the aging aircrafts' structures. The
affected aircraft -- 39 out of 161 Orions in service -- may be down
for as long as two years for repairs.
"Program officials determined that these aircraft are beyond
known structural limits on the lower section of the P-3 wing," said
a release by Naval Air Systems Command. Spokesman John Milliman
told Reuters no actual incidents with Orions have been
reported.
"This is data-driven," he said. The Navy began analyzing
potential issues with the 1960s-vintage turboprops in December
2004, to anticipate potential risks. Modifications and repairs to
the affected planes are expected to take between 18-24 months.
Initially developed as a long-legged maritime patrol aircraft,
in recent years Orions have also seen service over Iraq and
Afghanistan. The Orion fleet is scheduled to be replaced by 108
Boeing 737-based P-8As starting in 2013, though the Navy plans to
continue flying Orions until 2019.
Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the P-3, said its full
resources are available to the Navy to rectify the matter.
"As the original equipment manufacturer, we are uniquely
qualified to offer our assistance," said Thomas Jurkowsky, a
company spokesman. "Besides the Navy, nobody knows this airplane
better than Lockheed Martin."
This is the second structural fatigue issue identified among US
military aircraft in as many months. As ANN reported, the bulk of
the US Air Force F-15C fleet remains grounded for inspection
following the November 2 loss of a Missouri Air Guard Eagle, caused
by the structural failure of fuselage longerons.
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