The Navy expects to begin feeling the impact of the congressional budget turmoil on overall aviation readiness in July as it may have to reduce spending to cope with effect of continuing resolutions and possible sequestration, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) said yesterday.
NAVAIR said the initial Fleet Readiness Centers affected are in Cherry Point, N.C., San Diego, Calif., and Jacksonville, Fla., and that decisions will be made no later than Monday regarding changes to depot maintenance. Sequestration is expected to kick in Friday if Republican and Democrats are unable to reach a last-minute compromise.
Navy Fleet Readiness Centers “are preparing to adjust manning in accordance with anticipated reductions in Fleet flying hours and the cancellation of new aircraft and engine inductions starting the first week of April,” NAVAIR said.
NAVAIR added that the impact on engine readiness will begin to be felt in early May, with the overall effect on aircraft starting in July.
“Impacts will increase exponentially each month the production process is halted or significantly reduced,” NAVAIR said. NAVAIR estimates reductions or cancellations will top one million lost work hours at those three centers.
The NAVAIR release said private contractors were informed last week of the potential for canceling, deferring or limiting the scope of depot maintenance work last week.
“Notifications were made to allow companies time to prepare for adjustments that may become necessary under a year-long continuing resolution and potential sequestration,” NAVAIR said. The current continuing resolution (CR) expires at the end of March.
The Pentagon is worried that it may end up with a CR to govern spending through the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30. The Navy has said its operations and maintenance accounts will run out of money under a CR, which keeps spending at fiscal 2012 levels and would likely remain in place if Congress cannot agree to a proper budget.