B-2 Stealth Bombers Ready to Fly Despite Safety 'Pause'

Although B-2 Spirit flying operations remain in temporary pause because of a recent accident, they remain ready to conduct combat missions if necessary, according to the 509th Bomb Wing commander at Whiteman AFB, MO. Since the first-ever B-2 crash Feb. 23 at Anderson AFB, Guam, all B-2 flying is suspended...

For immediate service; more information; and multi-user access (site license), non-profit organization, educational institute pricing, contact Karen Garner kgarner@accessintel.com at (301) 354-1612.

This story is only available to paid subscribers. Please login below with your username and password if you are a subscriber.

Username:
Password:
	What is my password?

Subscribe     Trial

Although B-2 Spirit flying operations remain in temporary pause because of a recent accident, they remain ready to conduct combat missions if necessary, according to the 509th Bomb Wing commander at Whiteman AFB, MO.

Since the first-ever B-2 crash Feb. 23 at Anderson AFB, Guam, all B-2 flying is suspended pending the results from a safety investigation board.

"This temporary pause is the prudent thing to do after an aircraft crashes," said Brig. Gen. Garrett Harencak, the 509th BW commander. But the mission of the 509th Bomb Wing continues. "If tasked, the wing is capable and ready to execute our mission and can generate aircraft immediately."

ACC officials said a safety pause is unlike a grounding order, which would prevent all affected aircraft from flying despite mission needs.

"This is the first B-2 crash in the history of the aircraft," he said. "These bombers combined have a logged more than 14,000 sorties, 100 combat sorties and 75,000 flying hours without a single Class A mishap until now." A mishap is categorized as Class A when there is loss of life or damage in excess of $1 million.

The B-2 that crashed was named the Spirit of Kansas. It had logged more than 5,000 flight hours and 1,036 sorties before Feb. 23.

The Air Force describes the move as a "temporary pause" to review safety procedures. The B-2 went down shortly after takeoff from Andersen AFB. The pilots ejected safely. Twenty B-2 bombers remain home based at Whitman AFB in Missouri with the 509^th Bomber Wing.

Because B-2 aircraft are an invaluable commodity -- in performance and cost (at $1.2 billion per aircraft) -- Harencak said officials of the 509th BW and ACC are taking measures for safety and prevention of further loss. "We definitely want our return to flying to be deliberate and safe," he said.