US Coast Guard keeps its C-27Js grounded

The U.S. Coast Guard is preserving its C-27J plane grounded because it checks on cracks discovered within the fuselage of 14 plane, the service mentioned.

The Coast Guard first grounded its fleet of the medium vary surveillance plane after receiving an alert on Dec. 1 a few potential problem from producer Leonardo.

“The Coast Guard accomplished the inspections necessitated by the December 1, 2023, C-27J Alert Service Bulletin launched by Leonardo Plane Division (LAD),” the Coast Guard advised Protection Information.

“Throughout these inspections, which required operators to visually observe sure sections of the plane, the Coast Guard discovered cracks of various levels on all 14 of its C-27Js,” it added. “The Coast Guard will proceed to maintain its C-27J fleet grounded whereas working with Leonardo Plane Division to find out a path ahead.”

Italy’s Leonardo has mentioned the issue with its C-27Js was first reported by an operator of the plane, prompting the corporate to ask all customers to test their fleets and recommending a selected restore if cracks have been discovered.

“The implementation of such restore will be carried out at buyer premises by the Operators and doesn’t require important effort,” Leonardo mentioned earlier this month.

The Australian Air Drive grounded an unspecified variety of its 10 C-27Js which have been discovered to comprise cracks. However now, the Air Drive is flying them once more, a Leonardo spokesman advised Protection Information.

“Different operators recognized the issue however mounted it with out grounding the plane, whereas others discovered no issues,” the spokesman mentioned.

The U.S. Military, the Italian Air Drive and the Bulgarian Air Drive have been among the many customers who didn’t discover cracks, the spokesman added.

In an announcement, Leonardo mentioned: “Following the inspections carried out by the C-27J operators, Leonardo instantly issued a measure that allowed the fleets to return to service by prescribing periodic checks and offering restore directions to be carried out on the first accessible upkeep test.”

It added, “On the similar time, Leonardo is working alongside the (US) Coast Guard to supply further directions and requested technical info to facilitate the return to service of the US Coast Guard fleet as already completed by the opposite operators.”

Leonardo mentioned this month that 16 customers of the sunshine tactical transport plane had flown 250,000 hours.

On Dec. 20, the corporate introduced the supply of two plane to the Slovenian ministry of protection, including that it had now acquired 90 orders for the plane.