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 United States Air Force is flying less than historic norms and funding for acquisition and readiness is on a path to further hollow out this too small and old force to that is incapable of sustaining an enduring combat air campaign.
