Congressional Hearing on C-130 Aircraft Safety and Modernization
January 1, 2019
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The Frame
The committee is evaluating whether to fund upgrades for aging military transport aircraft or replace them, a decision that impacts flight safety for service members and requires significant federal defense spending.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Air National Guard
They operate legacy C-130H aircraft that are subject to proposed modernization programs rather than full replacement.
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
They are in the process of transitioning their entire KC-130T fleet to new KC-130J aircraft by 2023.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- Noncombat aviation accidents for manned military aircraft rose nearly 40% between fiscal years 2013 and 2017.
- Over 130 service members died in aviation mishaps between 2013 and 2017.
- Over 20% of these fatalities occurred in three accidents involving legacy C-130H, KC-130T, and C-2A aircraft.
- The Air Force plans to recapitalize Regular Component units with new C-130J aircraft but retain legacy C-130H aircraft in the Reserve and Air National Guard.
- The Air Force is pursuing center wing box replacements and aviation modernization upgrades to extend the life of legacy C-130H aircraft.
- The Marine Corps is on track to replace its entire KC-130T fleet with 79 new KC-130J aircraft by 2023.
- The Navy plans to begin replacing its 25 legacy aircraft by procuring 3 new aircraft in 2023.
- The committee noted that the Air Force has not requested funding for propulsion system upgrades for legacy C-130 aircraft in its base budget.
- The committee is investigating why the Navy and Marine Corps grounded their fleets following crashes, while the Air Force chose to continue flying its legacy aircraft.
Why It Matters
The committee is evaluating whether to fund upgrades for aging military transport aircraft or replace them, a decision that impacts flight safety for service members and requires significant federal defense spending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the committee concerned about C-130 aircraft?
What is the plan for replacing old C-130 aircraft?
News Coverage
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Divergent Fleet Management
The Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps adopted different safety protocols (grounding vs. continuing flight) following similar aircraft accidents.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance80How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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