Mobility airmen and transport aircraft converged at Alexandria International Airport in central Louisiana to stage the largest movement of Army paratroopers in more than a decade. The Joint Readiness Training Center at nearby Fort Polk sponsored the exercise, which saw 29 C-130s and C-17s descend on Alexandria earlier this month, along with contingency response airmen, to move 1,700 paratroopers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and more than 70 tons of equipment. The aircraft carried the paratroopers day and night to their drop zones during the week of activities. “The scale of this operation has not been seen in many years,” said Col. David Chandler, 570th Contingency Response Group commander at Travis AFB, Calif. He added, “[It] demonstrated true joint training and capability to respond when and where our nation needs.” (Alexandria report by Capt. Paradon Silpasornprasit)
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.