The Army now has its eighth project office–the Project Manager for Fixed Wing Aircraft–under the Program Executive office Aviation at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
Col. Brian Tachias Oct. 28 assumed responsibilities for the new office, with Brian Sabourin as the deputy. Until now, the Army managed part of its fixed wing fleet under the Project Office for Aviation Systems.
Since the mid-1980s the Fixed Wing Product Office managed approximately 250 aircraft, leaving nearly 100 Army fixed wing aircraft operated independently by individual organizations and major commands.
Last year, there was a large scale transition in the Army fixed wing community with the fixed wing fleet restructured with divestitures, realignments and new acquisitions, the PEO office said in a statement.
Based on the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (VCSA) Portfolio Review in 2010, the VCSA mandated that all Army fixed wing aircraft will be managed under one Project Office.
The VCSA Portfolio Review resulted in decisions affecting a restructure of fixed wing companies; directed the divestiture/retirement of older model aircraft; authorized new procurements to replace aging aircraft and/or obsolete technologies; and direction to initiate an exploration for a future utility aircraft (FUA), the path forward for utility fixed wing aircraft.
Tachias credited Col. Anthony Potts, project manager for Aviation Systems, for establishing the foundation for success in the Fixed Wing program. Potts transitioned several of his key staff members including Sabourin, former Aviation Systems Deputy Project Manager, to help establish the new Fixed Wing Project Office.
“Together, we will ensure that we continue to provide our warfighters the best and safest equipment to fly,” Tachias said.
“This consolidation is an opportunity to implement cost avoidance and cost savings measures,” said Tachias. “We’re working the transition of aircraft management now, and we’re anticipating additional guidance from ASA (ALT), our higher headquarters.”
The Fixed Wing Project Office is pursuing several aircraft acquisitions, some of which includes the modification of six new C12V1’s with the latest military communications, navigation, surveillance, and aircraft survivability equipment for worldwide deployability. Also, there is an ongoing procurement to provide the Golden Knights with three new Twin Otter 400 aircraft to support their recruiting and parachute demonstration missions.
While working to acquire new aircraft and retire the Army’s older fleet models, the Fixed Wing Project Office will perform a series of modifications to ensure the Army’s current fleet continues to operate in accordance with all civil and military requirements.
“This is a tremendous milestone for Army Aviation and indicates that higher commands recognize the magnitude of work required to acquire, field, sustain, and modernize the Army’s Fixed Wing fleet,” said Tachias.