Air Mobility Command’s new commander of 18th Air Force, Maj. Gen. James A. Hawkins, talked about new “smarter and better” ways to accomplish the mobility mission on a recent visit to Travis AFB, Calif. AMC commander Gen. Duncan McNabb recently approved one new procedure, which Hawkins termed “velocity initiatives,” describing it as a means to “minimize the time [giant C-5 airlifters] are on the ground.” He explained that ground and flight crews will run tasks concurrently, meaning they will service the aircraft at the same time that the flight crew loads passengers and cargo.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.