Venerable Airlifter Still A Warrior

The Air Force's premier intratheater airlifter, the C-130J, is now operational according to Air Mobility Command (AMC) officials.

The announcement is the result of an extensive effort by the total force team to meet specific operational criteria including:

• Successful completion of operational testing and evaluation
• Fully equipping the first combat delivery squadron
• Manning the first squadron with trained aircrews and maintenance members to support the mission

To test the C-130J, mobility crews employed the aircraft in real field conditions with checklists and maintenance procedures to determine how well it performed in various operational environments. During nearly nine months of evaluation concluding in April, not only did the aircraft perform as it was supposed to, but the crews also performed exceptionally well.

"We put the crews through the worst case scenarios of what they would go through in the plane, including losing engines and their avionics assistance -- basically shutting down all of the systems that enable a two-person cockpit -- and verifying the crew could still fly and navigate the plane," said Major Craig Williams, C-130J program manager.

The Maryland Air National Guard's 135th Airlift Group was the first combat delivery squadron fully equipped and manned. Along with other C-130J units, the 135th AG has deployed to U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, performing airland and airdrop missions.

AMC first deployed two C-130Js to Southwest Asia from December 2004 to March 2005 and the aircraft exceeded expectations. During that deployment the mission capable rate was 93.1 percent during 1,381 hours flown. Subsequently, four C-130Js have been continuously deployed there since June 2005, flying more than 7,844 hours while achieving a mission capable rate of 84.2 percent.

"Crews love flying the plane and maintainers like the relative ease of working on it compared to the legacy models," Major Williams said.

Capable of flying higher, farther and faster than previous C-130 models while carrying more cargo, General Duncan J. McNabb, Air Mobility Command commander, said, "The C-130J aircraft, crews and maintainers have performed admirably while deployed in support of the Global War on Terror."

ANN salutes AMC Public Affairs

FMI: www.af.mil