United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-07-31 monographic deposited born digital 40 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-772 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-772 P0b002ee1803a20ef f:d01772 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-772 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-772 GAO-01-772 Aircraft maintenance Helicopters Inventory control systems Spare parts Combat readiness Logistics Aircraft components Military aircraft Army procurement Apache Helicopter Army Strategic Logistics Plan Army Velocity Management Program Army Working Capital Fund Blackhawk Helicopter Chinook Helicopter DOD Logistics Strategic Plan CH-47 Helicopter UH-60 Helicopter AH-64 Helicopter Other Written Product A01253 Having spare parts available when needed to perform required maintenance is critical to the Department of Defense's accomplishment of its missions. Shortages of spare parts are a key indicator of supply system problems that can result in the unavailability of weapon systems to meet mission requirements. Despite additional funding by Congress to address this issue, the Army is still reporting concerns about spare parts shortages. Aviation spare parts shortages for the Apache, Blackhawk, and Chinook helicopters have adversely affected operations and led to inefficient maintenance practices that have lowered morale of maintenance personnel. Specifically, while the three helicopters generally met their mission-capable goals, indicating that spare parts shortages have not affected their mission capability, supply availability rates and the cannibalization of parts from one aircraft to another indicate that spare parts shortages have indeed been a problem. Cannibalization is an inefficient practice that results in double the work for maintenance personnel, masks parts shortages, and lowers morale of maintenance personnel. The reasons for the unavailability of parts included actual demands for parts that were greater than anticipated, delays in obtaining parts from a contractor, and problems concerning overhaul and maintenance. Furthermore, according to Army and Defense Logistics Agency officials, a contributing factor to the shortages was the Army's inability to obtain parts for these aging aircraft from the original part manufacturers, which may no longer be in business. The Army and Defense Logistics Agency have initiatives underway or planned that are designed to improve the availability of aviation parts. Some of these initiatives are new or in the planning stages. Once they are more fully developed, GAO will review them to determine whether there are opportunities to enhance them. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-772/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-772.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-772/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-772.pdf GAO-01-772 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-772 Other Written Product GAO-01-772; Army Inventory: Parts Shortages Are Impacting Operations and Maintenance Effectiveness; Aircraft maintenance Helicopters Inventory control systems Spare parts Combat readiness Logistics Aircraft components Military aircraft Army procurement Apache Helicopter Army Strategic Logistics Plan Army Velocity Management Program Army Working Capital Fund Blackhawk Helicopter Chinook Helicopter DOD Logistics Strategic Plan CH-47 Helicopter UH-60 Helicopter AH-64 Helicopter Public Law 103-62 Public Law 106-65 Public Law 106-398