On the recordOctober 13, 2011
I am pleased to introduce today, along with my colleague Senator REED, the Strategic Airlift Force Structure Reform Act of 2011. Current Federal law U.S. Code Title 10, 8062(g)(1) sets the Air Force's minimum number of strategic airlift aircraft at 316. However, based on the Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study-2016, Department of Defense and Air Force officials have testified approximately 300 aircraft can meet our nation's strategic airlift capacity requirements. During a July 13, 2011, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing, Christine Fox, Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, CAPE, in the Office of Secretary of Defense; General Duncan McNabb, Commander of U.S. Transportation Command, TRANSCOM; and General Raymond Johns, Commander of Air Mobility Command, AMC, testified that reducing the number to around 300 aircraft would allow the Air Force to meet airlift requirements while saving over $1.2 billion and not increasing operational risk. In fact, General Johns testified that strategic airlift aircraft in excess of 301 were ``over capacity'' that forces ``extra workload on our airmen to keep that capability when we don't need to utilize it.'' Based on this testimony, the Strategic Airlift Force Structure Act of 2011 would reduce the strategic airlift aircraft floor from 316 to 301.…
