Combat aircraft

Right top

to bottom:

The C-17 can

accommodate

all sizes of heavy

cargo — in this

case a spare

engine...

paratroopers...

USAF/SrA

Christian

Sullivan

...or twin rows

of supply

pallets. USAF/

SrA Christian

Sullivan

it takes approximately another year

to become an instructor pilot. Certain

pilots and loadmasters are selected

to attend airdrop training at Altus.

Finally, our most experienced pilots

and loadmasters become evaluators

that ensure aircrew maintain the proper

degree of pro ciencies and standards.

‘As for locations to train, Charleston

maintains an auxiliary air eld with a

3,500ft paved runway that lets pilots

routinely practise steep tactical precision

assault landings. This auxiliary air eld

also possesses surveyed drop zones that

allow aircrews to practice equipment

airdrops. Furthermore, there are several

dirt strips around the US that permit

us to practise semi-prepared runway

operations.’

Aircrews are responsible for mission

planning at least one day prior to a

 ight. The crew will plan low-levels,

Boeing contract team. Depending on

the task at hand, maintenance can

be completed on the  ightline, or

within the large hangars or specialized

facilities on base.

Mission time

Pilots selected to  y the C-17 go

through an initial quali cation course

at Altus AFB, Oklahoma. ‘The course

is approximately three months long

and pilots graduate from the course

as co-pilots — it’s these pilots that

are responsible for conducting the

‘air-land’ portion of the C-17 mission,’

Canlas explains. ‘Normally, a co-pilot

will upgrade to aircraft commander

[captain] in roughly two years and then

http://www.combataircraft.net // April 2018 43

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