Atlantic Ocean - Jan 2011: Two F/A-18E Super Hornets from the Tomcatters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 prepare to take off aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). (Navy photo by MCS Seaman Billy Ho)
By: FEDweek StaffThe Navy and Marine Corps fleets of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets are aging at a rate that outpaces its predecessor F/A-18C/D Hornets aircraft, according to a study by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
The report determined that:
• Availability rates for both Hornet versions are lower and have declined faster than other aircraft in the Navy’s fleet.
• Ten-year-old Super Hornets had availability rates roughly 18 percentage points lower than their predecessor F/A-18 Hornets.
• The data collected by CBO could not ascertain that Super Hornets are wearing out more quickly than other airplanes because they are flying more often. Data did show that decade-old Super Hornets flew four fewer hours per month than F/A-18C/Ds the same age.
• Data also suggests that availability rates for Super Hornets may either stabilize or continue to decline. Better availability would hinge upon the Navy’s willingness to invest in increased maintenance funding, CBO stated.
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