Pacific Air Forces now is slated to get the first of eight new C-17 airlifters in early February and officials tell the Honolulu Advertiser that it will immediately go to work for training flights and maintenance familiarization. After the first arrives, USAF plans to send the other C-17s to Hickam AFB, Hawaii, in three-week intervals. Planning for the new mission has been underway for more than a year by a combined force of active and Air National Guard airmen.
A legislative standoff has led to a lapse in a $4.26 billion small business innovation contracting program widely used by the Air Force and could spell the end of it entirely, industry sources warned Air & Space Forces Magazine.


