Savings And Greater Effectiveness Obtainable In Army Helicopter Maintenance Program

The General Accounting Office (GAO) made this review of the depot-level maintenance program of Army helicopters, engines, and components because 1arge quantities of those costly types of equipment were awaiting repair at the Army Aeronautical Depot Maintenance Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, at a time of unusual military need for them. Depot-level maintenance involves major overhaul or rebuilding of military equipment.

The Army's backlog of helicopters, engines, and components requiring repair increased substantially during the 18-month period ending January 1970 because of increased military operations and insufficient use of maintenance capabilities.

--Over 200 helicopters valued in excess of $63 million were awaiting repair and overhaul on January 31, 1970; At the same time, the Army had on order or was planning to buy, through fiscal year 1971, about 1 ,700 additional helicopters.

--Large quantities of engines and components, with an original cost of about $88 million, were also awaiting repair while orders for similar or identical items were outstanding.

GAO believes that the Army can attain the same or increased availability of helicopters at a lower cost by increasing its maintenance program and by reducing or stretching out its procurement program. The overhaul and repair of helicopters, engines, and components result in fully serviceable items at a substantially lower cost than that of new, purchased items. For example, an AH-1G helicopter costing $450,000 can be overhauled or rebuilt for an average cost of $150,000 to $200,000. Furthermore, overhauled items are generally available for reuse sooner than new items because overhaul time is generally much less than new production leadtime.

The Army has sufficient physical plant and equipment available to expand its capacity. Additional funding would be needed, however, for the personnel costs involved in establishing a second work shift and if needed, a third shift, at the Army Aeronautical Depot Maintenance Center. January 1970 there was one shift. Additional funding would also be needed to expand the quantity of work being done under contract.