The 12 airmen who make up the Air Terminal Operations Center at Ali Base, Iraq, work 24/7 moving passengers and cargo through this C-17 and C-130 airlift hub. In one month the ATOC team moves more than 700 tons of cargo and 4,000 passengers, says SSgt. Gregory Steffers, load planner with the 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. The load planners try to match seats and cargo booked to max out each aircraft’s load. The airmen all pitch in, when needed, performing work that often is handled by multiple work centers at stateside bases.
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.