Blue Angels cancel 2013 performances
04-09-2013, 08:58 AM
#1
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Blue Angels cancel 2013 performances
The Navy's famed Blue Angels aerial demonstration squad has canceled the rest of its 2013 performances, including dates this fall in San Diego, Ventura and San Francisco, Navy officials announced Tuesday.
The move was caused by the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration, officials said.
"This is one of many steps the Navy is taking to ensure resources are in place to support forces operating forward now and those training to relieve them," the Navy said in an official statement.
The Blue Angels spent the winter training at a Navy facility in El Centro, Calif., and had recently returned to the squad's home station in Pensacola, Fla.
The squad had scheduled 33 performances remaining for this year. Some had already been canceled because the air shows in which the Blue Angels were to fly had been canceled.
Among the Blue Angels performances canceled were those at the Naval Base Ventura County Air Show on Sept. 28-29, the Marine Corps Air Station Air Show in San Diego on Oct. 5-6, and San Francisco Fleet Week on Oct. 12-13. Even without the Blue Angels, the three California events are still scheduled.
"The Navy intends to continue aerial demonstrations in the future as the budget situation permits," the statement said.
The move was caused by the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration, officials said.
"This is one of many steps the Navy is taking to ensure resources are in place to support forces operating forward now and those training to relieve them," the Navy said in an official statement.
The Blue Angels spent the winter training at a Navy facility in El Centro, Calif., and had recently returned to the squad's home station in Pensacola, Fla.
The squad had scheduled 33 performances remaining for this year. Some had already been canceled because the air shows in which the Blue Angels were to fly had been canceled.
Among the Blue Angels performances canceled were those at the Naval Base Ventura County Air Show on Sept. 28-29, the Marine Corps Air Station Air Show in San Diego on Oct. 5-6, and San Francisco Fleet Week on Oct. 12-13. Even without the Blue Angels, the three California events are still scheduled.
"The Navy intends to continue aerial demonstrations in the future as the budget situation permits," the statement said.
04-09-2013, 09:28 AM
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Additionally...
LINK
US Air Force begins grounding some combat squadrons because of automatic spending cuts
Published April 09, 2013
Associated Press
NORFOLK, Va. – The Air Force is grounding about a third of its active-duty combat aircraft because of automatic spending cuts.
The stand-down will affect units stationed in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific. Those units include fighter, bomber, aggressor and airborne warning and control squadrons.
Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. made the announcement Tuesday.
Some units deployed that include F-16s, F-22s, A-10s and B-1s will stand down after they return home from their deployments. Other units began Tuesday.
The Air Force says the stand-down is the result of cuts to the command's operations and maintenance account. The Air Force says it must reduce its flying by about 45,000 fewer training hours before Oct. 1 than it previously planned.
Published April 09, 2013
Associated Press
The stand-down will affect units stationed in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific. Those units include fighter, bomber, aggressor and airborne warning and control squadrons.
Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va. made the announcement Tuesday.
Some units deployed that include F-16s, F-22s, A-10s and B-1s will stand down after they return home from their deployments. Other units began Tuesday.
The Air Force says the stand-down is the result of cuts to the command's operations and maintenance account. The Air Force says it must reduce its flying by about 45,000 fewer training hours before Oct. 1 than it previously planned.
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04-09-2013, 06:29 PM
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Posturing
Originally Posted by Sata 4000 RP
The Navy's famed Blue Angels aerial demonstration squad has canceled the rest of its 2013 performances, including dates this fall in San Diego, Ventura and San Francisco, Navy officials announced Tuesday.
The move was caused by the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration, officials said.....
The move was caused by the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration, officials said.....
About four weeks ago, they announced the cancellation of the Blues' April shows. At the time, I was TDY to NAS Pensacola.
The NOTAMS for the following week showed Sherman Field closed Tuesday through Friday.......for Blues Practice.
Saving money......by having an un-announced airshow.
The NOTAMS for the following week showed Sherman Field closed Tuesday through Friday.......for Blues Practice.
Saving money......by having an un-announced airshow.
04-09-2013, 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by UAL T38 Phlyer
About four weeks ago, they announced the cancellation of the Blues' April shows. At the time, I was TDY to NAS Pensacola.
The NOTAMS for the following week showed Sherman Field closed Tuesday through Friday.......for Blues Practice.
Saving money......by having an un-announced airshow.
04-09-2013, 08:04 PM
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Bdgerjmn:
No slight meant to the Blues. It's a comment on government and manipulation of public-perception.
Government and Big Brass (which is a form of 'government'): "Let's make a public announcement that the Blues have been cancelled for April." (It was on all the local channels). "That will make it seem like we are trying to save money due to the budget problems."
Reality: The practice shows on those four days cost almost as much as flying the actual shows.
In the above example, substitute "Control tower," "Library," "Highway bridge replacement," or other program for "Blues."
What I am saying is, the cuts associated with sequestration really often don't save any money at all. It is political posturing. It starts at the Federal level, and is handed down to the JCS, who pass it on to us.
There is an agenda here. I believe it is more about shaping public opinion than actually saving money. And that agenda would be to make the public more receptive to tax increases in order to return basic, as well as non-essential government services.
I haven't seen a single meaningful nor sensible cut in the Air Force (or Federal Government) since this started. Still lots of pointless waste. But dramatic announcements (14 combat squadrons closed for the rest of the year) continue to proliferate.
No slight meant to the Blues. It's a comment on government and manipulation of public-perception.
Government and Big Brass (which is a form of 'government'): "Let's make a public announcement that the Blues have been cancelled for April." (It was on all the local channels). "That will make it seem like we are trying to save money due to the budget problems."
Reality: The practice shows on those four days cost almost as much as flying the actual shows.
In the above example, substitute "Control tower," "Library," "Highway bridge replacement," or other program for "Blues."
What I am saying is, the cuts associated with sequestration really often don't save any money at all. It is political posturing. It starts at the Federal level, and is handed down to the JCS, who pass it on to us.
There is an agenda here. I believe it is more about shaping public opinion than actually saving money. And that agenda would be to make the public more receptive to tax increases in order to return basic, as well as non-essential government services.
I haven't seen a single meaningful nor sensible cut in the Air Force (or Federal Government) since this started. Still lots of pointless waste. But dramatic announcements (14 combat squadrons closed for the rest of the year) continue to proliferate.
04-10-2013, 03:50 AM
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LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) -- Air Force officials will begin to stand down active-duty combat units starting April 9 to ensure the remaining units supporting worldwide operations can maintain sufficient readiness through the remainder of the fiscal year.
The stand down is the result of cuts to Air Combat Command's operations and maintenance account, which must be implemented in part by flying approximately 45,000 fewer training hours between now and Oct 1.
As the Air Force's lead for Combat Air Forces, ACC manages the flying-hour programs for four major commands. This decision to stand down or curtail operations affects about one-third of the active-duty CAF aircraft -- including those assigned to fighter, bomber, aggressor and airborne warning and control squadrons -- stationed in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific.
"We must implement a tiered readiness concept where only the units preparing to deploy in support of major operations like Afghanistan are fully mission capable," said Gen. Mike Hostage, the ACC commander. "Units will stand down on a rotating basis so our limited resources can be focused on fulfilling critical missions."
"Historically, the Air Force has not operated under a tiered readiness construct because of the need to respond to any crisis within a matter of hours or days," Hostage said. "The current situation means we're accepting the risk that combat airpower may not be ready to respond immediately to new contingencies as they occur."
Some units currently deployed -- including A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, B-1 Lancers, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-22 Raptors -- will stand down after they return from their deployments. The remaining units will stand down operations on April 9. Active-duty aircrews assigned to Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard A-10 or F-16 squadrons under an arrangement known as "active associations" will also stop flying.
The stand down will remain in effect for the remainder of fiscal 2013 barring any changes to current levels of funding.
"We're entering uncharted territory in terms of how we've had to take this year's cuts and make adjustments to mitigate the most serious impacts," Hostage said. "Remaining as mission-ready as possible for combatant commanders is our priority, and we're prioritizing spending to ensure this imperative is met."
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. As funding allows, aircrews will also complete formal ground training courses, conduct non-flying exercises and improve local flying-related programs and guidance.
Maintainers will complete upgrade training and clear up backlogs of scheduled inspections and maintenance as possible given budget impacts in other areas, such as stock of spare parts.
Although each weapon system is unique, on average aircrews lose currency to fly combat missions within 90 to 120 days of not flying. It generally takes 60 to 90 days to conduct the training needed to return aircrews to mission-ready status, and the time and cost associated with that retraining increases the longer that crews stay on the ground.
"This will have a significant and multiyear impact on our operational readiness," Hostage said. "But right now, there is no other acceptable way to implement these cuts."
The stand down is the result of cuts to Air Combat Command's operations and maintenance account, which must be implemented in part by flying approximately 45,000 fewer training hours between now and Oct 1.
As the Air Force's lead for Combat Air Forces, ACC manages the flying-hour programs for four major commands. This decision to stand down or curtail operations affects about one-third of the active-duty CAF aircraft -- including those assigned to fighter, bomber, aggressor and airborne warning and control squadrons -- stationed in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific.
"We must implement a tiered readiness concept where only the units preparing to deploy in support of major operations like Afghanistan are fully mission capable," said Gen. Mike Hostage, the ACC commander. "Units will stand down on a rotating basis so our limited resources can be focused on fulfilling critical missions."
"Historically, the Air Force has not operated under a tiered readiness construct because of the need to respond to any crisis within a matter of hours or days," Hostage said. "The current situation means we're accepting the risk that combat airpower may not be ready to respond immediately to new contingencies as they occur."
Some units currently deployed -- including A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, B-1 Lancers, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-22 Raptors -- will stand down after they return from their deployments. The remaining units will stand down operations on April 9. Active-duty aircrews assigned to Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard A-10 or F-16 squadrons under an arrangement known as "active associations" will also stop flying.
The stand down will remain in effect for the remainder of fiscal 2013 barring any changes to current levels of funding.
"We're entering uncharted territory in terms of how we've had to take this year's cuts and make adjustments to mitigate the most serious impacts," Hostage said. "Remaining as mission-ready as possible for combatant commanders is our priority, and we're prioritizing spending to ensure this imperative is met."
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. As funding allows, aircrews will also complete formal ground training courses, conduct non-flying exercises and improve local flying-related programs and guidance.
Maintainers will complete upgrade training and clear up backlogs of scheduled inspections and maintenance as possible given budget impacts in other areas, such as stock of spare parts.
Although each weapon system is unique, on average aircrews lose currency to fly combat missions within 90 to 120 days of not flying. It generally takes 60 to 90 days to conduct the training needed to return aircrews to mission-ready status, and the time and cost associated with that retraining increases the longer that crews stay on the ground.
"This will have a significant and multiyear impact on our operational readiness," Hostage said. "But right now, there is no other acceptable way to implement these cuts."
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