airlift

An airlift is the organized transport of goods, equipment, and personnel by aircraft from one location to another, typically to project forces, supply an operation, or deliver humanitarian relief. Airlift operations can be categorized by purpose and scope into strategic, tactical, humanitarian, and medical evacuation missions. Strategic airlift moves large cargo and passengers over long distances, linking bases and theaters; tactical airlift focuses on shorter-range lift within a combat zone, delivering supplies and evacuating casualties. Humanitarian airlift responds to disasters, moving relief supplies, food, water, and equipment to affected areas; medical evacuation airlift specializes in rapid transport of wounded or ill patients to medical facilities.

Operations require coordinated airlift planning, including selection of routing, basing, aircraft, crews, and support personnel; airfields or landing zones; airspace management and security; and maintenance and fuel considerations. Aircraft types range from large fixed-wing cargo planes to military airdrop platforms and helicopters, and may operate with dedicated fleets or civilian contractors under contract. Load planning, palletization, and in-flight handling are critical for efficiency and safety.

Historically, airlift has played a pivotal role in both military campaigns and humanitarian aid. The Berlin Airlift of 1948–49 demonstrated the capacity to sustain a city by air under blockade. In contemporary operations, airlift is a core component of strategic mobility and disaster response, enabling rapid relief, evacuation, and redeployment of forces as needed.