US Air Force airlifters have been operating around the clock to deliver blankets, firewood, medical supplies, and food to areas of Afghanistan cut off by extreme cold and deep snow. Winter makes such mission more urgent; however, since such humanitarian missions began in October 2004, airmen have dropped more than 2.1 million pounds of aid. According to USAF journalist SSgt. Melissa Koskovich, the Southwest Asia air mobility division average about four aid drops per week to areas selected by the Afghan National Army.
The Air Force is seeking funding to let its pilots fly a little more than 1.1 million hours in fiscal 2027, which would be the most in about four years. But even if Airmen actually do fly all 1.1 million hours, it would still be short of the 1.3 million…