Although the Air Force originally intended the KC-X tanker competition to be a contest between off-the-shelf aircraft designs—to reduce risk and accelerate fielding—Boeing’s NewGen Tanker met the bill, even though it hasn’t flown yet, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. “The bottom line is, I don’t think that we necessarily mandated a machine that was flying in every respect,” Schwartz told the Daily Report Feb. 25 during an interview. He added, “Clearly, the [Boeing] 767 is an established platform, as is the [Airbus] A330.” Schwartz said both platforms “passed each of the requirements” that were embedded in the KC-X request for proposal, and “both platforms qualified.” So the Air Force based its choice on “other factors, including mission capability [and] lifecycle costs,” he said.
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.