About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

MASAD-83-4 1 (1982-11-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabmrz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE __WASHINGTON, D.C. 205481 qw MISSION ANALYSIS AND SYSTEMS ACQUISITION OIVISION B-203330 NOVEMBER 17,1982 The Honorable John R. Block The Secretary of Agriculture ~HI Dear Mr. Secretary: 119946 Subject: Cost Increases, Technical Problems, and Lack of User Interest Make Continuation of Helistat Program Questionable (GAO/MASAD-83-4) The Forest Service is developing a lighter-than-air vehicle consisting of a 343-foot-long blimp envelope with a frame which has four helicopters attached to it. (See enc. I.) After com- pleting the development program in 1983, the Forest Service then plans to use this vehicle, called the Helistat, to demonstrate that aerial logging operations are economical in steep, inaccessi- ble mountainous terrain. When the Helistat program began in 1979, the estimated net cost was $6.7 million--it has subsequently increased to at least $31.7 million. The development was to require 28 months--it will now take at least 41 months. In addition, significant technical problems exist that must be resolved before the development pro- gram can be completed. Because the Forest Service has not developed a plan for resolving the technical problems and pre- pared a revised cost estimate, the final cost and completion are uncertain. In our previous report on the program (MASAD-81-31, June 2, 1981), we noted that potential users saw little practical appli- cation for a vehicle of this type. The lack of user support, coupled with the dramatic increase in program cost, makes the con- tinuation of the program questionable. We have the following concerns. --Estimated net cost of the program has increased 373 percent. --Engineering problems have delayed the program and caused concern about the structural strength of the vehicle. (951748)

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most