Flying from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, to the island of Kauai, both the Hawaii Air National Guard and active duty Air Force airmen helped deliver critical equipment being used to pump out floodwaters from the island. The Hawaii ANG’s 204th Airlift Squadron and 291st Combat Communications Squadron worked with the active duty 535th Airlift Squadron to fly pumping equipment on one of Hickam’s new C-17s. The 36,000 pounds of equipment was too great a load for a KC-135 or CH-47 helicopter, officials said, but the C-17 delivered the load overnight to the small island.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.