Local girl spends day as a KC-10 pilot

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Brugman
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
It was a foggy day in San Francisco when a 10-year-old girl flew a KC-10 under the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Katie Powell, daughter of Senior Master Sgt. Chris Powell, 60th Operations Group, was named Pilot for a Day, May 19, and was given an inside look at the daily life of pilots at Travis. 

Master Sgt. Kenneth Rossa, 60th Operations Group C-17 loadmaster evaluator, started the Pilot for a Day program here to provide opportunities to local children who are facing life threatening diseases. Katie is figthing Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. 

“We’re just trying to treat her very special today,” said Capt. Cate Fienhold, 6th Air Refueling Squadron, squadron executive. “She is a very strong girl.” 

Katie started her day as a pilot with an honorary pilot presentation. She received patches and a scarf. She then went on to her mission briefing and obtained her orders for the day along with a donated flight suit. 

Her mission began at the air traffic control tower where she spoke to pilots and aircrew in flight. 

Then she took command of the KC-10 simulator and flew out to San Francisco, where she buzzed the Golden Gate and executed a near-perfect landing on her first try. 

From the sim, she went on to a KC-Boom Operator Training, had lunch and then took a tour of a KC-10 static display. 

At the end of the day, she met Col. Steve Arquiette, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander. Colonel Arquiette coined Katie and gave her the scarf from around his neck. 

“One of the things she kept saying was that she was thankful,” Sergeant Powell said. “She understands how much work people have to do. Everyone we visited took time out of their day to show her around.” 

Sergeant Powell works as a KC-10 boom operator and the tour gave Katie a chance to see everything that goes with his job. 

“To be honest, it was just fortunate that I happen to work in the same type of area,” Sergeant Powell said. “I had nothing to do with it other than my daughter was the recipient.” 

Katie was the first Pilot for a Day at Travis. 

“One of the things we told her was that she was the test run,” Sergeant Powell said. “I asked her if there was anything she recommended to make the program better; she said she wouldn’t change a thing. It was perfect. She really had a great time.” 

The day was not without its surprises for Sergeant Powell. 

“When they asked her what job she wanted to do, she said boom [operator]; that was a complete shock to good old dad,” he said.