Air Force Pilots Will Take a Day Off

In response to a series of recent mishaps, U.S.-based Air Force pilots will not fly today.

Gen. Hal M. Hornburg, commander of Air Combat Command, said all air crews will conduct mandatory training to focus on “flight discipline, task prioritization and flight and maintenance procedures.”

“While getting the job done is essential, we need to focus on getting the job done safely,” he said.

Having the entire U.S.-based Air Force combat fleet take a day off to focus on safety is unusual but not unprecedented.

“It’s understood that our people are stretched thin conducting the global war on terrorism, other contingency operations and homeland security missions over the United States, while preparing for possible future conflicts,” Hornburg said. “However, focusing on the basics is every bit as vital in preparation for potential contingencies as it is for maintaining safe flying operations at home.”

Among the recent accidents involving Air Force planes:

* On Wednesday, two A-10 Thunderbolt II jets collided over the Nevada Test and Training Range near Las Vegas, killing one pilot. The other ejected and was not hurt.

* In mid-November, an Air Force Reserve F-16 crashed in Utah, killing the pilot.

* In July, an F-117 stealth fighter-bomber pilot accidentally dropped three dummy bombs in New Mexico and Texas. One smashed through the roof of a house. The Air Force later blamed pilot inattention and breakdowns in safety procedures.