USMC KC-130J Crew Composition

<p>With the advent of the glass cockpit in the KC-130J the Marine Corps faces tough decisions about reducing the crew complement. Designed for three crewmembers the KC-130J potentially reduces the crew complement in half. This paper looks at the negative impacts that drastic crew reductions would have on the safety and efficiency of the KC-130 community. The analysis begins with a look at the extraordinary safety record of the KC-130 community and the training regimen. Next the analysis looks at the capabilities limitations and the Cockpit Resource Management issues of glass technology. Finally an analysis of a closely related aircraft the C-17 is conducted to assess KC-130J training resource deficiencies. The analysis shows lack of training resources significantly degrades the safe operations of the KC-130J. The arrival of this new aircraft will not bring any substantial increase in training sortie opportunities. With a drastic reduction in crew complement the KC-130 community will be severely strained to keep aircrews proficient. With relatively young aircrew and minimal training opportunities the risk to safety of flight increases substantially without the contributions of the crew positions eliminated from the KC-130J. The Marine Corps would be well served to take a long-term transition strategy of maintaining the relative same crew complement until such time that appropriate training resources are available and the crew can be gradually reduced.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>