Standing Down

The Air Force has issued a stand-down order to its active-duty combat squadrons due to budget cuts that have negatively impacted Air Combat Command's operations and maintenance account, according to a service statement.

ACC's flying hours -- specifically, the training hours its airmen are allotted -- will be reduced by about 45,000 hours between now and Oct. 1, the statement indicates. Defense News reported on April 8 that the Air Force would begin grounding its combat squadrons today.

“ACC, as the Air Force's lead for Combat Air Forces, manages the flying-hour programs for four major commands,” the statement reads. “This decision to stand down or curtain operations affects about one-third of the active-duty [Combat Air Forces] aircraft -- including those assigned to fighter bomber, aggressor and airborne warning and control squadrons -- stationed in the United States, Europe and the Pacific.”

ACC commander Gen. Mike Hostage said ACC has had to implement a tiered readiness approach in which "only the units preparing to deploy in support of major operations like Afghanistan are fully mission capable.” The units will stand down “on a rotating basis” so that the Air Force's “limited resources can be focused on fulfilling critical missions.” Hostage noted that the stand-down would have a “significant and multiyear impact” on the Air Force's operational readiness.

Some of the combat squadrons, which include A-10 twin-engine planes, B-1 long-range bombers, F-16 fighter jets and F-22 fighter jets, will stand down “after they return from their deployments,” according to the statement. Other squadrons will stand down operations today, April 9. Additionally, active-duty airmen assigned to the Air Force Reserve or the Air National Guard's A-10 and F-16 squadrons will also stop flying until October, the statement adds.

The stand-down will continue throughout fiscal year 2013, “barring any changes to current levels of funding,” according to the statement.

“Units that are stood down will shift their emphasis to ground training. They will use flight simulators to the extent possible within existing contracts, and conduct academic training to maintain basic skills and knowledge of their aircraft,” the statement reads. “As funding allows, aircrews will also complete formal ground training courses, conduct non-flying exercises and improve local flying-related programs and guidance.”