The Mobility Forum The Mobility Forum

In 1989, KLM Flight 867, a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, took off from Anchorage, AK, enroute to Narita, Japan. During the climb out, it encountered a cloud of volcanic ash from the active eruptions of Mount Redoubt along Alaska’s Cook Inlet. Shortly after passing flight level (FL) 250, all four engines shut down. The crew attempted several restarts and were able to light engines 1 and 2 descending through FL130 and the remaining two at FL110.

The 53rd annual Airlift/Tanker Association (A/TA) Convention Symposium and Technical Exposition was held October 28-31, 2021, in Orlando, FL. This year’s theme was “Leveraging Our Legacy to Aggressively Forge Our Future.” The main topic of conversation for the mobility Airmen in attendance, however, was Operation Allies Refuge (OAR), which was Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) recent record-breaking airlift out of the Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan.

After spending time with our friends and families this past Labor Day weekend, autumn and winter are upon us as the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler. This change of season also marks the conclusion of the Critical Days of Summer (CDS) safety awareness campaign. The purpose of the CDS campaign was to encourage everyone to enjoy those warm summer days safely.

FY21 Aviation Mishaps Aircraft Class A Class B Total as of October 2021 C-5M 0 0 0 C-17A 3 2 5 C-130 0 0 0…

Imagine landing in an austere location—no structures or people in sight. All that keeps you company in this barren stretch of land is clear blue skies, sandy soil, and your crew. In a fraction of the time normally associated with creating aircraft support areas, the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) team creates airfield infrastructure capable of supporting deployed operations.

Several years ago, The Mobility Forum had the honor of interviewing Ms. Elinor Otto, one of the original Rosie the Riveters. She began working in a California aviation factory in 1942 for 65 cents an hour, building airplanes to support the war effort. Throughout her long career—until she was 95 years old—Ms. Otto helped build the 279 C-17s that the U.S. Air Force flew in times of war and for countless lifesaving humanitarian airlifts. Ms. Otto, and the many other women who stepped up to answer the call during World War II, did more than build aircraft—they inspired a movement and provided the groundwork for the next generation of young women.

When I hear the word icing, I think of cake; to pilots, however, icing is something they definitely want to avoid when flying. When ice forms on aircraft, it introduces a whole new level of risk.

We can all agree that the weather is sometimes unpredictable. According to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, as cold weather is approaching, it is crucial to be prepared for and recognize the dangers of cold weather operations in the U.S. Military. One of the most common and severe cold-weather injuries to prevent is frostbite.

Traveling to various parts of the world can be an exciting experience. There are so many places to explore and create memories. It is important, however, to keep safety in mind and not let your guard down. Traveling may be an adventure, but it is wise to have safeguards in place.

Throughout the year, we see many news stories about cybersecurity breaches in large companies. Of course, we all get worried when we learn that a company—or a bank—we use has been breached because that means our personal information has been at risk. This violation can heighten our awareness for a short time; we check our bank accounts, keep a close eye on our credit score, and change our passwords at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, these large-scale breaches are not the only time our personal information is at risk.

While participating in the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, NV, the crew of GULF 07 showed exceptional situational awareness, airmanship, and emergency responsiveness. Upon landing and while taxiing to park following a B-52, the crew of GULF 07 noticed the right main landing gear on the B-52 catch fire and quickly begin to spread about the exterior of the aircraft. The copilot alerted the crew members aboard the B-52 of the emergency, of which they were unaware, allowing them to quickly and safely evacuate the aircraft.

UNIT AWARD 96th Airlift Squadron, Minneapolis ARS, MN 65 Years • 225,640 Hours 2,090 FY21 Mishap-Free Flying Hours 65 Years Since Last Class A or…