Followup Survey of Improvements Made in Military Airlift Command Operations Since the 1973 Middle East War

A followup survey to evaluate actions designed to improve future airlift operations indicated that Military Airlift Command (MAC) operations have improved greatly since the 1973 Middle East War. A 1975 report evaluating airlift operations during the war contained the following recommendations that: (1) the Secretary of Defense establish a contingency plan for the Middle East to provide for overall logistic support, including strategic airlift; (2) MAC be given authority to manage the movement of cargo, personnel, and aircraft in future strategic airlift operations; (3) and the Secretary of the Air Force provide in-flight refueling capability for the C-5 aircraft.

MAC and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have prepared a contingency plan for the Middle East, and the Secretary of Defense has directed that MAC be given the emergency powers of a specified command. During the Israeli airlift, the operational capability to refuel the C-5 aircraft in flight did not exist because MAC lacked sufficient qualified crews. About 80 percent of C-5 crews have been qualified for aerial refueling. Additional actions have resulted in some improvement in C-5 spare parts stockage levels and reductions in the number of aircraft grounded for maintenance. A sufficient number of experienced personnel are now available to the Command Support Staff, weather displays have been automated, and communications facilities have been improved.