Use of the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center Could Be Improved

The Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center near Tucson, Arizona, stores, returns to service, recovers parts from, and disposes of surplus U.S. military aircraft. Aircraft recovered from the Center are used by the military services, foreign countries, and public agencies, and reclaimed parts are used in the services' supply systems. At present, the Center's role in providing parts is as important as its role in providing aircraft. About 4,500 aircraft from the services and the Coast Guard are at the Center. An average of 1,120 leave each year, of which 120 are returned to service, 100 are sold to other countries, 180 are donated to public agencies, and 720 are declared surplus and sold. The value of parts removed and returned to the services' active inventory has recently averaged $102.8 million a year.

In order to be a cost-effective source of aircraft and parts, the Center must be more effectively managed. The following problems were identified: the services have not been timely in disposing of excess aircraft; they have not developed firm criteria sufficiently so that the Center's assets could be used effectively; and little or no attention has been paid to logistical needs for components and parts when making dispostion decisions. The services were not taking full advantage of parts available on aircraft at the Center and were keeping too many aircraft in reserve status. The Navy could realize savings of about $14 million with a more aggressive recovery program.