Young Displeased With CSAR-X Progress

Young Displeased with CSAR-X Progress: Pentagon acquisition czar John Young said last week he is dissatisfied with the Air Force’s handling of the combat search and rescue vehicle replacement program, or CSAR-X. “I’m actually, to be honest with you, somewhat disappointed in that. I can tell you my leadership is approaching unhappy with that,” he told reporters during a briefing Oct. 30. According to various press reports, Young said he was prepared to approve a contract award for the $15 billion helicopter recapitalization program next month, but had to cancel those plans after the Air Force determined that it had not properly informed the industry bidders of a factor added to its evaluation criteria. As a result, the Air Force’s acquisition shop issued a notice Oct. 22, saying it would be releasing an amendment to the CSAR-X solicitation to clarify the change. USAF said there would be a “minor delay” associated with the amendment, which puts off announcing the winning helicopter until next year. Press reports have said the delay could roll into the spring or summer of 2009. The Air Force chose Boeing’s HH-47 in November 2006 to replace its HH-60G rescue helicopters, but the program has been in limbo since. After two successful rounds of legal protests by Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky, the Air Force reopened the contest to revised bids. As of August and September, Air Force officials were still saying publicly they expected to announce the winner this fall. (For more, read this Reuters news wire service report.)

11/3/2008

On the Record

Mission One
"The health and safety of our pilots—all of our pilots—is our utmost priority. Our operational flight surgeons and our medical staff interact with our pilots on a daily basis."
—Brig. Gen. Daniel Wyman, Air Combat Command command surgeon, speaking to reporters during a teleconference, May 9, 2012. He was emphasizing that the Air Force is doing all it can to ensure the safety of F-22 pilots as service officials continue to home in on the cause of why some Raptor pilots have experienced hypoxia-like symptoms in the cockpit like difficulty concentrating, fatigue, headaches, and nausea.

On the Record

Message to Congress
"If you give us force structure back, give us the money, too. Because the quickest way I know to a hollow force is to give us structure without money. Simple as that. . . . 'Make it work' is not a satisfactory solution."
—Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz articulating his message to lawmakers on the Air Force's Fiscal 2013 budget proposal during a speech at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C., May 1, 2012. The Air Force leadership has proposed reducing force structure and personnel next fiscal year in order to maintain a ready and capable force as the service absorbs significant spending cuts.