Scott AFB, Ill., is reclaiming the Air Force’s sole C-21A schoolhouse from Keesler AFB, Miss. This move will centralize the bulk of USAF’s C-21 functions at Scott, which had hosted the training mission for the militarized Lear business transports up until the early 1990s. The Air Force intends to cut the C-21 fleet from 56 aircraft to 28 by Fiscal 2013. As part of these changes, Scott’s 458th Airlift Squadron will assume responsibility for the training in addition to conducting its regular operational airlift missions. The squadron will use two of its C-21s for training. The first initial qualification class began at Scott this week; instructor pilot training is set to begin in July. The 458th AS resides under Scott’s 375th Operations Group, which manages USAF’s C-21 fleet. This realignment makes Scott the “focal point for all things C-21,” said Col. Terry Ward, 375th OG commander. (Scott report by Bekah Clark)
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held meetings with defense leaders from the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea during a trip to the Indo-Pacific this week.