by Tech. Sgt. Rachel Martinez
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
4/12/2013 - TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- In
2009, the Air Force conducted semi-prepared runway operations testing
at numerous airfields around the world where they found that the C-17
Globemaster III is capable of taking off and landing on 65 percent of
the world's soil.
The capability to operate on semi-prepared airfields increases the
C-17's ability to deliver much-needed cargo to forward deployed troops
in Afghanistan, as was recently demonstrated by members of the 817th
Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.
On March 26, 2013, the 817 EAS was tasked to deliver critical
communications equipment to Forward Operating Base Farah in Afghanistan
where the airfield is little more than dirt. While the aircrews deliver
cargo to bases in Afghanistan on a daily basis, this was only the second
time in the last year that the 817 EAS had been tasked with a SPRO
mission.
"We train for it, and have procedures in our manuals on how to conduct
SPRO, we just don't get to do it very often," said Capt. Cliff Caldwell,
817 EAS aircraft commander for the mission. "These missions are cool
because they really validate the capabilities of the C-17."
There is extra preparation and precaution when it comes to conducting
SPRO missions. Aircrews conduct careful pre-flight plan study and
maintenance airmen prepare the jet for operating in dusty and austere
environments. Waivers need to be coordinated through Air Mobility
Command and, in this case, the cargo needed to be certified for airlift.
Additionally, the austere location required security support from
Phoenix Ravens, specially trained security forces personnel dedicated to
providing support for AMC aircraft transiting airfields where security
is unknown or additional security is needed to counter local threats.
Caldwell, who had conducted SPRO training at an airfield in the U.S.,
was the only aircrew member who had actually conducted such a mission.
Despite the uniqueness of the mission, the other aircrew members said
they were prepared for successful operations.
"We keep documents on these types of missions and that was a huge part
of our mission review," said Capt. Chris Gilbert, 817 EAS pilot. "We
were well prepared. Other than landing the aircraft on dirt, it was just
another mission for us; and the jet performed really well that day."
With such proven combat capabilities, the 817 EAS continues to provide airlift as needed to meet warfighter needs.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
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