Vance flightline closes out fiscal 2006 hours

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  The 71st Flying Training Wing closed out its fiscal 2006 flying hours Thursday, two days before the year ended.
T-1s flew 27,408 hours, T-6s flew 25,400 hours, T-37s flew 15,018 hours and T-38s flew 15,011 hours.
Air Education and Training Command directs the number of hours Team Vance must complete each year, according to Capt. Joshua Chambers, 71st Operations Support Squadron wing programming. Because squadrons can possibly lose hours to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the flying program is always planned to finish early.
Several factors contributed to the wing remaining on that early schedule, Captain Chambers said.
"Proactive scheduling by the squadrons for the past two months, our submission of hour adjustments to AETC by August and great weather in September allowed the wing to complete our flying hours early," he said. "The aircrews' attention to detail in submitting their daily hours was also critical to closing out the year."
Flying hours are set to ensure proper pilot training and to help maintenance keep the base's fleet healthy. AETC Instruction 21-104 states the flying plan is a contract between the wing commander and AETC and must be met to "conduct high quality student training and maintain high aircraft mission capability."
Col. Douglas Troyer, 71st Operations Group commander, thanked all involved in flight operations for their hard work.
"I'm proud of all of the squadrons for zeroing out the fiscal '06 flying hours on time," he said. "Executing an 83,000-hour program with no Class A or B mishaps takes a massive team effort. I'd like to thank operations, maintenance and all the base support functions for their hard work and dedication to making this another stellar year for Vance. I look forward to seeing the same results next year."