Work to shift to contractors

The Air Force will temporarily transition some active-duty maintenance units to contract maintenance beginning in fiscal year 2017 and continuing through fiscal year 2020. The move to contract maintenance for some non-deployable flying units and back shop maintenance will allow the Air Force to cross train about 1,100 experienced maintainers from F-16, A-10 and C-130 aircraft to the F-35 program to address a shortfall of 4,000 maintainers as a result of budgetary constraints. Avionics units at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base and Tyndall Air Force Base are among the locations affected. Other bases are Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Little Rock AFB, Ark., Nellis AFB, Nev., Eielson AFB, Alaska, Anderson AFB, Guam; Holloman AFB and Kirtland AFB, N.M.; Peterson AFB, Colo.; and Rota Air Base, Spain. The Air Force will use an existing contract vehicle to begin the transition. (Source: AFNS, 02/12/16)