Air Force officials note that the 621st Contingency Response Wing has just celebrated its first birthday. The Air Mobility Command wing, headquartered at McGuire AFB, N.J., got a major workout during its first year, when it took on more than 525 hurricane relief missions in the US and 273 earthquake relief missions in Pakistan. Its primary mission, of course, is to open air bases in forward areas of operation.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.