Squadrons at Scott AFB Fly Very Important People Everywhere

Efram Ramirez

Two squadrons at Scott AFB have combined to form the first Total Force Integration (TFI) Very Important Person (VIP) Special Airlift Mission squadron. The organization flies an average of 1,900 hours a year and has flown passengers from the First Lady to the Air Force Chief of Staff to approximately 80 different countries, according to the AFB's website.

The 54th and 73rd Airlift Squadrons (AS) "provide mission-ready crew members when the 932nd Airlift Wing has a C-40 mission to fly," Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the 54th AS Matt Yetishefsky said.

The crew members on the flights, which typically consists of three pilots, two flying crew chiefs and four flight attendants, can receive notice as short as 24 hours for trips that average between 5 and 11 days, Technical Sargent and 54th AS flight attendant Jon Jackson explained.

Unlike standard commercial flight crews, these AS flight attendants must perform a multitude of tasks including loading luggage and cargo, preparing all meals, completing all necessary customs paperwork and maintaining proficient knowledge of first aid and emergency procedures, the website said.

The 54th AS has completed over 5,900 flying hours without a mishap, according to the Scott AFB site.

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