Keeping air mobility missions moving ...

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Airman 1st Class Kristin Kuthe, a Command Post controller assigned to the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, assists an Air Mobility Command aircrew from the 618th TACC Operations Floor. 618th TACC Command Post controllers are available 24-hours-a-day and engage in a combined 37,000 phone calls each month to assist AMC aircrews worldwide. (Department of Defense photo/Mr. Robert Fehringer)

Let's get it fixed

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Master Sgt. George Gulyas, an aircraft maintenance craftsman assigned to the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, reviews information about on-going maintenance to a mobility aircraft from his position on the 618th TACC Operations Floor. As part of the Logistics Support Division of the 618th TACC's Command and Control Directorate, Sergeant Gulyas is responsible for coordinating maintenance support for AMC aircraft worldwide. (Department of Defense photo/Mr. Robert Fehringer)

Let's review ...

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Air Mobility Command senior leaders listen to an operations summary briefing in the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center. AMC's mission is to provide global air mobility, including airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation, for America's armed forces. (Department of Defense photo/Mr. Robert Fehringer)

Aeromedical evacuation missions start at the 618th TACC

Second Lieutenant Scott Baker, assigned to the U.S. Transportation Command's Global Patient Movement Requirements Center, reviews information about an aeromedical evacuation mission from his position on the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center's Operations Floor. The GPMRC works directly with the 618th TACC's aeromedical evacuation planners to coordinate transportation of injured troops around the world. (Department of Defense photo/Mr. Robert Fehringer)

AMC operations hub passes Mission Capability Inspection

Published March 10, 2009
By Staff Report
618th Tanker Airlift Control Center Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center, Air Mobility Command's hub for global airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation operations, completed a Mission Capability Inspection this week earning an overall rating of "excellent," according to the AMC Inspector General's office.

The 618th TACC, located at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., is responsible for planning, scheduling and directing air mobility missions for a fleet of more than 1,300 military and contract aircraft around the world. The MCI evaluates the organization's capabilities to execute its planning and tasking, command and control, and mission support functions.

"This inspection was extremely thorough and you should be very proud of your accomplishments," said Col. Jerry Martinez, AMC's Inspector General. "You clearly have an organization that is very proud of their contribution to the mission, and from what I see you're not just the largest air operations center in the world, you're the best air operations center in the world."

The AMC inspection program is designed to assess and improve the capability of the command and its assigned units to perform their missions, according to the instructions that guide the inspection process.

The process involved a week-long review of records and programs to ensure the personnel in the 618th TACC comply with the standards that guide operations while executing AMC's Global Reach mission. Inspection team members at locations around the globe monitored 618th TACC products and customer service. These team members carefully scrutinized all aspects of flight planning ranging from flight plan accuracy, diplomatic clearances, fuel conservation, to the proper balance of cargo aboard aircraft.

The inspection also tested the ability of personnel to survive and operate during an emergency and, if needed, stand-up an alternate operating location if the TACC had to be evacuated. In both regards the 618th TACC impressed evaluators by demonstrating that they not only had effective plans in place, but that they could also execute those plans seamlessly, ensuring minimal impact to on-going Global Reach operations.

"The IG team gave us a good, hard look, which is exactly what we asked them to do," said Maj. Gen. Mark S. Solo, the 618th TACC commander. "We had terrific results from this inspection and we're going to continue working hard because in this business we cannot rest on our laurels. I couldn't be more proud of this organization and the things its personnel have accomplished."