F-15 GROUNDING HASN'T HARMED NORAD MISSIONS, OFFICIAL SAYS

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 10, 2008

The Air Force's grounding of its F-15 aircraft had no impact on operations of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the joint command with Canada based at Peterson Air Force Base.

"The Air Force provides capability to NORAD to defend North American aerospace, and they've done that job," said NORAD spokesman Canadian Maj. Brian Martin. "They may have used other assets, like the F-16 and F-22, but they've met our mission requirements completely."

Martin said NORAD officials were in "close contact" with the Air Force since November when the Air Force grounded the F-15 fleet, nearly 700 planes, after one of the planes broke apart during a Nov. 2 simulated dogfight.

The newest versions of the jets were allowed to resume flying soon after, but 440 of the older model F-15s remained out of service until Wednesday when the Air Force cleared 60 percent of the fleet for flying status after they passed inspections, the Air Force said in a press release.

Inspections have revealed nine aircraft with longeron fatigue- cracks. Longerons are critical support structures.

In addition, about 40 percent of inspected aircraft have at least one longeron that does not meet blueprint specifications, the release said.

Further analysis is expected to take four weeks.