AMC AIRCREW OF DISTINCTION AWARD

CREW OF PICO 57,
50 ARS, MACDILL AFB, FL

THE CREW OF PICO 57, 50th AIR REFUELING SQUADRON, MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), FL, led by Lt Col Christopher Knaute, has been announced as the winner of the Air Mobility Command Aircrew of Distinction Award.

The KC-135R/T crew of PICO 57 were tasked with taking maintenance cargo and additional crew members to Yokota Air Base, Japan, for Exercise MOBILITY GUARDIAN 2023. Shortly after departing the mountainous area at Elmendorf AFB, AK, the flight crew experienced an equipment malfunction in the runway stabilizer trim, which became stuck in the nose-up condition.

Runway stabilizer trim in the nose-up condition is the most egregious type of trim failure any aircrew can face, and rapid and effective crew coordination is essential for survival. PICO 57 expeditiously and effectively restored trimming capabilities, stabilizing airspeed, pitch, bank, and thrust to safely land. The crew’s situational awareness helped them avoid mountainous terrain and successfully coordinate with local air traffic control to declare an emergency early and help the tower crew to clear airspace around their path, avoiding the possibility of any mid-air collisions. The quick thinking and composure of the crew ensured a quick return to normal flight conditions and ensured a positive outcome. The outstanding Airmanship of PICO 57 under an extremely stressful, potentially deadly, and exceedingly rare situation ultimately saved the lives of eight crewmembers, 14 Army soldiers, and a $55 million aircraft.