An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Sheppard saves Air Force $238,000

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sheppard was one of two Air Force bases to participate in a Sept. 16 test of a different, more cost efficient way to dispose of excess aircraft. Goodfellow AFB, Texas, is the other base.

"The current method would cost about $250,000 to remove the eight aircraft we have. The cost of the new method is approximately $12,000," said Dave Ferry, 82nd Training Group operations chief. "This disposal method provides significant cost-savings, costing as little as $1,500 per aircraft. The conventional demilitarization methods can cost 10-20 times as much."

Money saved from cost reductions from the new process can be better used elsewhere. 

"We're basically reallocating our resources to improve our training environment," said Brig. Gen. O.G. Mannon, 82nd Training Wing commander.

The wing Aerospace Vehicle Distribution Office arranged for contractors to dispose of several aircraft using the new process.

"The process is called demolition of excess aircraft led by AVDO," Mr. Ferry said.

"The current method consists of checking with multiple sources before destroying the unused aircraft. We go through several sources, and if no one wants the pieces of the aircraft, we give it to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office for 30 days," said Darryl Cason, 82nd TRG equipment manager. "This process basically allows the aircraft to vegetate for up to four years."

He said the new process is more efficient because the contractor comes in to crush and cut up the aircraft, selling the parts afterward.

"They've only been here for one day and have already finished four out of eight planes," General Mannon said. "This is something that was supposed to take two weeks to complete."

Mr. Ferry said the process has been around for awhile, but that the Air Force has only recently decided to try it.

"This could be a great method to remove old aircraft that are just sitting there taking up valuable ramp space, they also require the use of maintenance resources while awaiting final disposition," said Mr. Ferry. "If all goes well, this system could be employed Air Force-wide."