Pope AFB loses nearly half of C-130 fleet to grounding

<p>Nearly half of the aging C-130 airplanes at Pope Air Force Base have been grounded because of safety concerns, military officials said.</p><p>Col. Darren W. McDew, 43rd Airlift Wing commander, said Monday 14 of the 31 four-propeller C-130 Hercules have at Pope are prevented from flying. The planes are used for missions as diverse as dropping Fort Bragg paratroopers on training exercises and hauling cargo around the Persian Gulf.</p><p>Some members of the North Carolina congressional delegation say they plan to seek money to update the fleet.</p><p>"Wake up and smell the jet fuel," said Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C. "We've got to replace this aging equipment."</p><p>The Pope airplanes are among 30 nationwide grounded Thursday by the Air Mobility Command, Pope's higher headquarters at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. The C-130 System Program Office at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia recommended the grounding after inspections of the "center wing box structure," the area where the wings are fitted to the fuselage.</p><p>"Such a precaution ensures the safety and well-being of our equipment and, most importantly, our airmen," McDew said.</p><p>Seven Pope aircraft are on "restricted status," McDew said. Those are among 60 throughout the Air Mobility Command.</p><p>Plans called for the Vietnam-era airplanes to be replaced at Pope in coming years.</p><p>The budget proposal of President Bush presented Feb. 7 indicates that the Defense Department had terminated its program to update the C-130s.</p><p>Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a North Carolina Republican on the Armed Services Committee, said she supports the replacement aircraft.</p><p>"I'm confident that funding for the C-130J will be restored in light of the recent safety groundings of some of our old E and H models," she said.</p><p>Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., also pledged to support paying for an updated version of the C-130.</p><p>"These planes are vital to strategic airlift at Pope Air Force Base," McIntyre said. "The C-130J is a critical component in the fight for freedom and security."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x286668c)</p>