A total of 31 squadrons across the Air Force have stopped flying as a result of budget sequestration, said Lt. Gen. Burton Field, deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements. That includes, 13 fighter and bomber squadrons, two AWACS squadrons, and 16 “training or some other kind” of squadrons, said Field during an AFA-Air Force Breakfast Program event in Arlington, Va., on May 23. In addition, “seven or eight” other combat air force squadrons are flying “at a very reduced rate,” and all Air Force tankers and C-130s are “flying at the bare basic rate,” said Field. “That’s not a good situation for an Air Force,” he said. However, there may be some glimmer of hope for dormant aircrews. That’s because the Fiscal 2013 reprogramming request that the Pentagon has submitted to Congress would enable some of those squadrons to start flying again, said Field. “But only a small chunk,” he noted. “Maybe a four-ship’s worth or a six-ship’s worth, just so we have the capability in case something bad happens.”
Members of the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing helped save 11 airplane crash survivors off the coast of Florida on May 12. The Reserve Airmen were flying an HC-130J Combat King II and an HH-60W Jolly Green II on a routine training flight when a Coast Guard call diverted…