Last Call for "Jodie"

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. James Schartz
  • 62nd AS commander
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  The 62nd Airlift Squadron flew its last formation under the "Jodie" call sign Sept. 27, 2013, at Little Rock Air Force Base.

"Jodie" has been the call sign for the 62nd AS since at least 1970 when the unit moved to Little Rock AFB. Each Flying squadron is assigned a call sign for their flights. The call sign is filed on the flight plan and used each time there as a radio transmission with Air Traffic Control. When a pilot calls the ATC Tower while flying, he/she identifies themselves as "Jodie 01." Units take pride in their call sign because it identifies who they are and sets them apart from the other flying squadrons.

In fiscal year 2014 and beyond, instructors from the 62nd AS will augment the 189th Airlift Wing in accomplishing all flight line training for initial, requalification, transition and instructor syllabi for the legacy C-130 schoolhouse. These sorties will fly under the 189th AW call sign of "Props."

The 62nd AS moved its C-130s from Sewart AFB, Tenn., to LRAFB in 1970. Since 1971, the 62nd AS has been the Replacement Training Unit, now called the Formal Training Unit, for the legacy C-130s. Like clockwork for decades, the Jodie formations have traversed the Arkansas skies, returned to the Little Rock AFB traffic pattern to remarshall, and then went back out for another formation airdrop. The 62nd AS has gone through many changes in the past 43 years. It has occupied many different buildings along the flight line. It has flown hundreds of different E-model and H2 tail numbers. Most recently, it helped grow the 22nd Air Force Detachment 1 instructor cadre. But with all these changes, the one thing that has remained constant is the "Jodie" call sign. Tens of thousands of C-130 crew members from the active duty, reserves, ANG, sister services and international partners have flown under the "Jodie" call sign at some point in their flying career.

The 62nd AS is focused on the future and committed to making the transition of the C-130H FTU to the 189th AW a success.

Last Call for "Jodie"

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. James Schartz
  • 62nd AS commander
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  The 62nd Airlift Squadron flew its last formation under the "Jodie" call sign Sept. 27, 2013, at Little Rock Air Force Base.

"Jodie" has been the call sign for the 62nd AS since at least 1970 when the unit moved to Little Rock AFB. Each Flying squadron is assigned a call sign for their flights. The call sign is filed on the flight plan and used each time there as a radio transmission with Air Traffic Control. When a pilot calls the ATC Tower while flying, he/she identifies themselves as "Jodie 01." Units take pride in their call sign because it identifies who they are and sets them apart from the other flying squadrons.

In fiscal year 2014 and beyond, instructors from the 62nd AS will augment the 189th Airlift Wing in accomplishing all flight line training for initial, requalification, transition and instructor syllabi for the legacy C-130 schoolhouse. These sorties will fly under the 189th AW call sign of "Props."

The 62nd AS moved its C-130s from Sewart AFB, Tenn., to LRAFB in 1970. Since 1971, the 62nd AS has been the Replacement Training Unit, now called the Formal Training Unit, for the legacy C-130s. Like clockwork for decades, the Jodie formations have traversed the Arkansas skies, returned to the Little Rock AFB traffic pattern to remarshall, and then went back out for another formation airdrop. The 62nd AS has gone through many changes in the past 43 years. It has occupied many different buildings along the flight line. It has flown hundreds of different E-model and H2 tail numbers. Most recently, it helped grow the 22nd Air Force Detachment 1 instructor cadre. But with all these changes, the one thing that has remained constant is the "Jodie" call sign. Tens of thousands of C-130 crew members from the active duty, reserves, ANG, sister services and international partners have flown under the "Jodie" call sign at some point in their flying career.

The 62nd AS is focused on the future and committed to making the transition of the C-130H FTU to the 189th AW a success.