Mobility airmen's nonstop operations tempo will be a major topic of discussion at this week's Airlift/Tanker Association's 2015 convention, which runs from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 in Orlando, Florida.
"We will talk about the ops tempo: How does it affect them … the right ops tempo; how we’re going to continue to use our fleet; modernization — those type of things," said Gen. Carlton Everhart II, head of Air Mobility Command.
The Airlift/Tanker Association is a private organization that partners with the Air Force to provide professional development for airmen, Everhart told Air Force Times in an interview.
"Ops tempo, how we are flying our airplanes, that is all enveloped in the training that goes on with ATA," Everhart said.
Speakers for this year’s convention include Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, U.S. Transportation Command commander Gen. Darren McDew, head of the Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke III, head of Air Force Reserve Command Lt. Gen. James Jackson and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody, Everhart said.
Everhart said he plans to talk about the development of the KC-46 airlift tanker and research into new mobility aircraft.
"I will mention in what I call, if I may, the 'state of the union address,' I'll talk about future studies such as the potential for a mobility requirement study, or a follow-on to the C-130, or the C-X, and what is around the corner," he said.
The convention is an opportunity for mobility airmen to come together and learn from each other about how to do their mission better, he said.
"They'll also be able to talk to one another, share their stories: What we did right; what we did wrong; the lessons learned; the tactics, techniques and procedures," Everhart said. "That's why it's important for us to come together and discuss: Are there other possible solutions out there that we can do things better, be more innovative, be bold airmen?"
Between 2,500 and 3,500 people are expected to attend the convention including airmen, government officials, representatives from industry and retired service members, said retired Air Force Greg Cook, a spokesman for that Airlift/Tanker Association.
The secretary of the Air Force's office has authorized up to 1,500 government attendees for the convention and military members are also allowed to take part in the convention at their own expense, Cook told Air Force Times.
At every convention, speakers talk about the high operations tempo facing mobility airmen, he said.
"High ops tempo is just something we take for granted now," Cook said. "It hasn't let up since Desert Shield in 1991. We've just kind of embraced the fact that high ops tempo is our business. There's never enough of what we have to satisfy the demand."
Air Mobility Command has become used to foregoing certain airlift operations to respond to emergencies, such as hurricanes, he said.
"We live in crisis," Cook said. "From what I know and from what I watch, basically our airlift force is scheduled to the max virtually every day."
