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GAO says the Pentagon is not maximizing the load capability for the USAF airlift fleet, including dual use tankers. The reason, says the Congressional watchdog agency in a new report, is that Air Mobility Command doesn’t collect enough data to make a good determination about efficient use. Actually, AMC agrees and has been working on that very problem. However, as GAO points out, although AMC wants to maximize the airlift fleet’s load-carrying capability to move troops and cargo as efficiently—and cheaply—as possible, its primary mission, per DOD, is to deliver “the right items to the right place at the right time.” Are these conflicting goals? Yes.
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…