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Acquisition Update: Air Station Sacramento Reaches Initial Operational Capability For C-27Js

July 6, 2016

Capt. Douglas Nash, commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, California, salutes a Coast Guard C-27J pilot during a change of watch ceremony at the air station’s hangar in McClellan Park June 30, 2016. The ceremony marked the final day that an HC-130 Hercules crew stood the watch at Air Station Sacramento and introduced the newest aircraft. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Loumania Stewart.

Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, California, reached initial operational capability for the C-27J medium range surveillance aircraft after receiving its fourth operational Spartan July 1.

IOC is a point in the acquisition process at which a selected unit scheduled to receive a new platform has received it and has the ability to use and maintain it. Air Station Sacramento reaching IOC demonstrates that the Coast Guard’s C-27J acquisition program and HC-27J Asset Project Office have developed and implemented support, training, logistics and other programs that allow the four aircraft to execute missions. These programs can still be refined before the air station receives its remaining two aircraft.

“Fielding the C-27J at Sacramento is the largest milestone in this acquisition, and it reflects all the hard work the APO has accomplished up until now,” said Capt. Shannon McCullar, commanding officer of the HC-27J APO. The APO developed the plan to incorporate 14 C-27Js into the Coast Guard’s operational fleet and has also led efforts to obtain airworthiness certifications for each aircraft and developed a logistics program, including the acquisition of spare parts and training devices, to support the aircraft as they transition to operational use.

“Achieving IOC at Air Station Sacramento is a very important milestone for the C-27J maritime patrol aircraft acquisition. The transfer of four capable aircraft to Sacramento with qualified crewmembers available to answer the call for MPA missions is a vital first step toward full operational capability,” said Lt. Cmdr. Bart Philpott, deputy program manager of the C-27J acquisition. “Thanks to the hard work of the HC-27J Asset Project Office and the C-27J acquisition team, Air Station Sacramento achieved on-time IOC.”

An Air Station Sacramento C-27J crew assisted a disabled sailing vessel during a search and rescue case the day the first C-27J entered service, Philpott noted. “It goes without saying: the C-27Js are having immediate impacts in the Pacific Area.”

Air Station Sacramento’s remaining two C-27Js are scheduled for delivery in fiscal year 2017. The air station’s C-27Js are replacing four HC-130H Hercules long range surveillance aircraft, which will be transferred to the U.S. Forest Service. The C-27Js provide medium-range air capability for the Coast Guard’s maritime patrol, drug and migrant interdiction, disaster response, and search and rescue missions.

Air Station Clearwater, Florida, will be the next to receive an operational C-27J and will also receive six C-27Js total. Once all 14 aircraft are operational, the Coast Guard will rotate the aircraft so that two are in planned depot maintenance at any given time.

For more information: C-27J program page

Last Modified 1/25/2017