Air Force to remove tail numbers from aircrafts, watchdog groups unsettled

The US Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) recently made a controversial decision to remove all tail numbers and unit information from military aircraft, a move that has raised concerns among watchdog groups.

This decision was announced on February 23, 2023, and is expected to be implemented across all aircraft in the AMC’s fleet.

Air Mobility Command Removes Tail Numbers and Unit Info from Planes, Alarming Watchdogs https://t.co/XfeclZu6EQ

— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) March 2, 2023

Watchdog groups have expressed concern that this move could hamper transparency and accountability in the use of military aircraft. Furthermore, it could make it more difficult to track the movements of military aircraft, including potential misuse or abuse.

One of the main concerns with this decision is that it could make it more difficult to track the use of military aircraft for non-mission-related purposes, such as personal travel or political events. As a result, watchdog groups fear that this could lead to increased abuse of military resources and undermine public trust in the military.

In response to these concerns, the AMC has defended its decision, stating that it is part of a broader effort to increase operational security and protect military personnel. The AMC has also argued that the removal of tail numbers and unit information from aircraft is consistent with similar practices used by other military branches.

Despite these arguments, watchdog groups remain skeptical. In a statement released on February 24, 2023, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) stated that “the removal of tail numbers and unit information from planes is a dangerous step backward for transparency and accountability in the military.”

This sentiment was echoed by other watchdog groups, including the Project on Government Oversight and the Government Accountability Project. Both of these organizations have called for the AMC to reconsider its decision and to provide more information about how this decision will impact transparency and accountability in the use of military aircraft.

It remains to be seen how this decision will ultimately play out and what the impact will be on military operations and public trust in the military.