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GAO says the Pentagon is not maximizing the load capability for the USAF airlift fleet, including dual use tankers. The reason, says the Congressional watchdog agency in a new report, is that Air Mobility Command doesn’t collect enough data to make a good determination about efficient use. Actually, AMC agrees and has been working on that very problem. However, as GAO points out, although AMC wants to maximize the airlift fleet’s load-carrying capability to move troops and cargo as efficiently—and cheaply—as possible, its primary mission, per DOD, is to deliver “the right items to the right place at the right time.” Are these conflicting goals? Yes.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
