A campaign plan is in progress to engage and inform our elected representatives about stopping the wasteful spending and how to improve flight fundamentals training for student pilots.
- Communicating with members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and their staff
- Reaching out to the veteran community through the website and emails
- Encouraging veterans and others to contact and educate their elected representatives.
- Publishing article in Army Aviation (AAAA)
- Coordinating with the Associated Press or other news organizations
- Keeping those that join the mailing list informed
- Moderating the discussion forum
The Army made the wrong decision several years ago without adequate analysis of the operating and sustainment costs. The choice to use the UH-72A utility helicopter for training student pilots is wasting taxpayer money, $14 million per month, $170 million per year.
Using the TH-67 helicopter until sufficient quantities of the appropriate training helicopter were procured was a viable course of action several years ago.
The replacement of time limited and condition-based components on the UH-72A will cost millions of dollars. Any proposal to sustain this twin engine utility helicopter for training student pilots at Fort Rucker, is wasteful spending. A better option is to procure a lower cost training helicopter when funds are available.
Our team of retired instructors and combat veterans have engaged the advisors to four senators. Senator Kelly from Arizona, Senator Reed from Rhode Island, Senator Kaine from Virginia and Senator Tuberville from Alabama.
During the presentation advisors listen and ask thoughtful questions to gain an understanding of the problem and the recommended solutions.
The team is not aware of any commitment from these senators to promote the tenants of presentation e.g., require the Army through a Congressional Reporting Requirement (CRR) to conduct an analysis and develop a requirement for a lower cost and more effective training helicopter.
We believe the Senators were not briefed by their advisors. If they were informed, the senators would promote the CRR within the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) or take other action to compel the Army to conduct the training and cost analysis. The senators should also assist with procurement funding.
We encourage the senators that cosigned the audit letter posted below to take positive action and responsibly invest taxpayer money. To do this, they must be informed about the facts!
The result of any audit that finds wasteful spending is to take correction action. Senior Army leaders should develop the training helicopter requirement and ask congress for procurement funding.
Your help is needed to contact the co-signers of the audit letter and ask them to take action, promote the CRR for the FY 2023 NDAA. Contact us if you need help with a presentation.
Pentagon Audit Letter
A PDF copy of the audit letter is provided below for references and a URL link is provided to the government website where it was found.
The Army’s 2021 attempt at student “solo” flight is featured in the article and video at the URL links below. Remember the OH-23 or TH-55 and your first solo flight without the instructor! These students are missing out on learning flight fundamentals. Read the presentation on our home page for the details about students learning to fly in a complex aircraft with computer assisted controls and landing in adverse wind conditions.