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Air Force

Air Force Temporarily Grounds One Quarter of C-130 Fleet Due to Cracks

By Vivienne Machi

Thursday, August 8th, 2019

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Air Force Temporarily Grounds One Quarter of C-130 Fleet Due to Cracks

A U.S. Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules aircraft. Photo: U.S. Air Force.

The Air Force’s Air Mobility Command has ordered the temporary removal of over 100 C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft from service for inspections following discoveries of “atypical cracks” during maintenance. AMC Commander Gen. Maryanne Miller directed an immediate time compliance technical order (TCTO) inspection to identify and correct any cracks along the lower center wing joint – also known as the “rainbow fitting” that provides structural support within the wings – of 123 C-130H and C-130J-model aircraft. The service maintains…

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