GAO: U.S. Guard Helicopter Pilots Burdened by Limited Flight Hours

GAO: U.S. Guard Helo Pilots Burdened by Limited Flight Hours

Lack of pilot proficiency factors into Guard helicopter accidents examined by the Government Accountability Office

Apache AH-64E — Lack of pilot proficiency factors into Guard helicopter accidents examined by the Government Accountability Office. (Photo: Boeing)

By Mark Huber • Contributor

November 1, 2023

A two-year Government Accountability Office (GAO) performance audit found that helicopter operations at both the Army and Air National Guard suffered from a lack of pilot proficiency and experience due to limited flight hours and simulator time. Contributing factors included a lack of aircraft availability triggered by inadequate maintenance staffing and quality issues with refurbished aircraft, simulator scarcity, and pilots who are overburdened with administrative tasks. “What we looked at, I think, definitely has applicability to the commercial world,” said Cary Russell, GAO director of defense capabilities and management, at a recent webinar hosted by the Helicopter Association International.

The GAO investigated causal factors in 298 non-combat helicopter accidents between 2012 and 2021 that killed 28 across aircraft types including the Army Guard’s AH-64 Apache, UH/HH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, UH-72 Lakota, and Air National Guard’s HH-60G Pave Hawk. Of this fleet, the CH-47 had the highest accident rate while the AH-64 had the most fatal accidents.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.