Air Flow into Haiti – US Air Force Mobility Forces – DoD Roundtable

The guests for today’s Department of Defense Blogger’s Roundtable were U.S. Air Force Col. John Romero, chief of Air Mobility Division for the 612th Air Operations Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, A.Z., and Lt Col Brad Graff of the 601st Air Operations Center at Tyndall Air Force Base. Col. Romero and Lt Col Graff provided an update of Air Force Southern Command’s ongoing support to the Haitian government and relief efforts—specifically–how airmen have been able to manage the flow of aircraft into Haiti, prioritize landing times based off current needs on the ground, and ensure the safe and efficient flow of relief supplies into Haiti.

“Since implementation of the Haiti Flight Operations Coordination Center, safe arrival capacity has increased to over 155 missions per day and no aircraft has been denied a landing time. Haiti landing or “slot” times are allocated based upon the Government of Haiti and US Agency for International Development established cargo priorities. Two-thirds of all landing times are issued to non-Department of Defense aircraft.”

The Haiti flight operations coordination center, located at Tyndall Air Force Base, is coordinating the flow of air traffic into Port-au-Prince and airdrops into Haiti as well. They have coordinated 808 slot times for the international community since the Haitian government ask for help. The organization has has grown from 13 personnel and is not at 26. Their support/supervision at Davis Monthan AFB has been augmented from 20 personnel to 51 personnel with additional Guard, Reserve, active duty and an individual from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well! Air Mobility Command has placed a Director of Mobility Forces at Davis Monthan to assist the coordination as well!

In addition to the airflow into Port-au-Prince delivering humanitarian relief the Air Force had successful airdrops today. The C-17s dropped 40 bundles each of MRE’s and water into two locations coordinated by the Haitian government for direct relief for the populations in those areas! Colonel Romero said they did a “fantastic job” and were right on target!

For the latest reports on DoD efforts in Haiti please go to the following MilitaryAvenue Article: Index of the US Military Response (chronologically listed).

To listen to the Roundtable please go to DoDLive.

Photo Credits: Master Sgt. Douglas Brook and Tech. Sgt Nicholas Wentworth, Air Force Special Operations Command, perform medical care to a Haitian man at the Toussaint L’ouverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 18, 2010. The man was injured in the earthquake that rocked the country Jan. 12, 2010. The Airmen are certified emergency medical technicians. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Russell E. Cooley IV)

Pallets of relief supplies exit a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft over Haiti Jan. 18, 2010. The C-17, crewed by Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., departed Pope AFB, N.C., and delivered 40 pallets of food and water into Haiti. Joint Task Force-Haiti secured the area where the supplies were delivered. Once on the ground, supplies were distributed by JTF-Haiti, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other relief personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)

Forty pallets of relief supplies exit a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft over Haiti Jan. 18, 2010. The C-17, crewed by Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., departed Pope AFB, N.C., and delivered 40 pallets of food and water into Haiti. Joint Task Force-Haiti secured the area where the supplies were delivered. Once on the ground, supplies were distributed by JTF-Haiti, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other relief personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)byColonel KonThursday, January 21, 2010Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary Life:Col K,DoD Roundtable,Haiti