Air Force Shifts C-17 Focus from Production to Sustainment, RAFB Key Center for Aircraft Maintenance

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The arrival of last Air Force C-17 at Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina last week marks an end in production of that type of aircraft.

The Air Force partnered with Boeing to make 223 airlifters. It is now shifting its focus to sustainment, which means checking the aircraft every five years to make sure everything is in working order, as well as mandatory modifications.

Robins Air Force Base is the primary center for sustainment of the C-17.

“We have been concentrating on sustainment for a long time…(so) this isn’t a big change,” Col. David Morgan said in a statement.

Robins has partnered with Boeing on C-17 sustainment since 2000. The ability to take off and land on short runways and haul medical gear across continents has made the C-17 the airlifter of choice for no-fail missions around the globe, according to a RAFB news release.

Base officials say the periodic maintenance done at Robins will allow the aircraft to meet its 30 year life expectancy.

“Even though we’re not producing C-17s anymore, we expect the 223 we have to last for a long time,” Morgan said.