The 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron has been delivering about one million pounds of cargo a day to Iraq and Afghanistan. SrA. Erik Hofmeyer reports that the aircrews, nearing the end of their four-month rotation, have flown 3,578 sorties, hauling 120.8 million pounds of cargo and 111,549 passengers. In addition to airlift and airdrop of personnel and supplies, the C-17s have made possible 26 aeromedical evacuations.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told lawmakers Apr. 30 that the service’s biggest airlifter, the C-5 Galaxy, has a 37 percent mission capable rate—one of several challenges facing the mobility fleet.