Dyess captain, C-130 pilot, supports airlift operations in Southwest Asia; finishes Pakistan flood relief support

Published Oct. 18, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Capt. Daniel Hilferty is a C-130 Hercules pilot deployed with the 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia. At his deployed location, Captain Hilferty flies the C-130 with the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.

Captain Hilferty is deployed from the 317th Operations Support Squadron, 317th Airlift Group, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The 317th Airlift Group is comprised of the 39th and 40th Airlift Squadrons, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 317th Maintenance Squadron, 317th OSS and the 317th Maintenance Operations Squadron. The group comes under the operational control of 18th Air Force and Air Mobility Command at Scott AFB.

In his deployed duties, Captain Hilferty supports airlift operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Most recently, Captain Hilferty was among the Airmen and aircraft from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing that joined the U.S. military's humanitarian relief efforts in flood-ravaged Pakistan. He was among two C-130 aircraft and more than 40 aircrew members, maintainers and support personnel who departed Aug. 30 for Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, a a 386th AEW news report showed. They returned from their support in Pakistan in early October.

As a C-130 pilot, Captain Hilferty regularly flies combat airlift missions in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility supporting Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Whether flying relief airlift missions to Pakistan or supporting OEF, Captain Hilferty is doing exactly what he was trained to do. According to his official Air Force job description for an airlift pilot, he is required to "pilot airlift aircraft and command crews to accomplish airlift, training and other missions."

To fulfill his work as an airlift pilot, Captain Hilferty reviews mission tasking, intelligence and weather information, the job description states. He supervises mission planning, preparation, filing a flight plan and crew briefings and he ensures the aircraft is pre-flighted, inspected, loaded, equipped and manned for each mission.

Airmen like Captain Hilferty also pilot aircraft and command crews. They are trained to operate aircraft controls and equipment and perform, supervise, or direct navigation, in-flight refueling, and cargo and passenger delivery. They also ensure the operational readiness of the crew by conducting or supervising mission specific training and they develop plans and policies, monitor operations and assist commanders with functions related to airlift operations, the job descript shows.

Airmen like Captain Hilferty also have to maintain mandatory job knowledge in the theory of flight, air navigation, meteorology, flying directives, aircraft operating procedures and mission tactics.

The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, located at an air base in Southwest Asia, is the primary tactical airlift hub for re-supply missions supporting coalition operations in Iraq and provides combat service support to land component forces throughout the Persian Gulf Region and Iraq, the 386th AEW Web site shows. The wing is comprised of the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group, 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group, and 387th Air Expeditionary Group and includes approximately 2,400 active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Airmen.