Air Mobility Command cited pilot error as the cause of the surprise landing of a C-17 at a small airstrip four miles shy of its intended touchdown at MacDill AFB, Fla., last July, reported the Tampa Bay Times. “The young pilot did a good job landing, albeit on the wrong strip,” said US Central Command boss Marine Gen. James Mattis, who was one of the 23 passengers aboard the July 20 flight, according to the newspaper’s Jan. 24 report. AMC officials said the pilot misjudged his position due to “fatigue, complacency, and a lack of flight discipline,” states the report. The Peter Knight Executive Airport is on Davis Islands across Hillsborough Bay from MacDill. Its runway roughly aligns on the same heading as MacDill’s. The aircrew managed to land the C-17 safely, causing minimal damage to the executive airport’s runway. The Times reported on Jan. 27 that MacDill officials are modifying the way they handle incoming air traffic to mitigate the chances of pilots confusing the two airfields.
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.