I pushed and pulled a lot of pallets on USAF, NATO, and CRAF aircraft. I also loose loaded cargo on KC135's. Worked pax service in our MAC/AMC terminals. As a joke I became a flight attendant for Trans States after being laid off from a real job. I kind of like my job now but what the heck, I'll go to DC. 😆

(Written on 03/24/2023)(Permalink)

Ah, so everyone had th fish on this flight. Get me Rex Kramer and only Ted Stryker can bring this flight down. Seriously, this had a great outcome. Shit happens and I give kudos for the entire crew doing what we should be doing.

(Written on 03/24/2023)(Permalink)

LOL, that's a great analogy. Is it really that bad? What model of 130? I used to do flights on the J41. It made my old MAC blood flowing and thinking of Iron Maiden's "Ace's High". 130's going out at Bravo launch at RAF Mildenhall at 0600, my job was done as they are loaded with pax and cargo. What really gets me going is load early get our mission safely.

(Written on 03/24/2023)(Permalink)

The article states no one is hanging out by the runways with cameras anymore. I guess he's never been to RAF Mildenhall or RAF Lakenheath. When I first came in MAC aircraft was painted in the Euro 1 livery. The American flag, MAC, and tail number was the only thing on the tail. The unit number was at the front and that was it. When we changed to AMC that's when they added the aircraft's assigned base to the tail and changed to an all gray livery. At least keep the tail number. If AMC is doing it, then ACC may as well do it. And go back to removing any nose art on all aircraft. That would be a great morale booster, not.

(Written on 03/03/2023)(Permalink)

As a former Air Transportation Specialist I wouldn't have to argue with loadmasters about changes in the load plan? Would the loadmaster also be removed? Maybe in combat situations this is feasible. However, day to day operations we pretty much ran like a regular airline and everyday was a real world scenario, constantly moving cargo, mail, and pax. In the back of my mind I'm thinking autonomous cargo (MAC for us older guys, AMC for the newer guys) flights will grow a larger back log of cargo and pax in our Aerial Ports. Requirements change constantly to supply or resupply troops at fixed and forward bases. Despite what's in the regs these days, there is no cookie cutter load on any particular aircraft. Also we can reconfigure the cabin layout at a moment's notice depending on mission. Most of our MAC/AMC flights were regular channel missions but the loads between pax and cargo changed quickly depending on backlog and priority cargo. Now that I think about it, I was phase 2 qualifie

(Written on 02/21/2023)(Permalink)

My first 747 flight was I want to say Tower Air back in 1984 when I was 13 and as a UM. LAX-DFW-STL. Crazy routing. One of the flight attendants and one of the pilots gave me a tour if the cabin and flight deck while we were at DFW. I wish I knew what I did with those pictures.

(Written on 02/01/2023)(Permalink)

Anything by NY Times, WSJ, Washington Post, etc will always be a pay wall. I just go to my Google browser with name or subject and get stories that way.

(Written on 02/01/2023)(Permalink)

Water and electricity, always a great mix. Just kidding. Good luck to them and it should be an interesting endeavour.

(Written on 01/31/2023)(Permalink)

I'm pretty skeptical on this venture. Hopefully the whole project works out and not just some money pit.

(Written on 01/30/2023)(Permalink)

That's great. She was truly a hero and leader in the early days of aviation.

(Written on 01/26/2023)(Permalink)