Aerial port center making air movements easier

Air Force Links ^ | Nov 23, 2005 | Staff Sgt. Alicia Prakash

[SandRat]

11/23/2005 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- The U.S. Central Command Air Forces aerial port control center here makes it easier to move troops and cargo through this region each day.

That includes tons of cargo and thousands of troops and is a process that takes a lot planning and coordination, officials said. The center cuts a step out of the process.

The center, located in the air mobility division of the combined air operations center here, eliminates the need for theater aerial ports to coordinate travel with ports in the United States.

Instead, aerial ports, terminal units and customers in the region can call one of the 12 control center workers for air transportation guidance on cargo and passenger issues.

The new center, which operates around the clock, is divided into three sections: Passenger reservations, cargo management and in-transit visibility.

Airmen working in passenger reservations are responsible for passenger travel within the region. They make more than 2,000 reservations a month.

“Customers can call two weeks in advance with requests for intra-theater travel and we’ll make the arrangements,” said Lt. Col. Timothy O’Brien, the center’s chief, deployed from Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

The passenger reservation center can research flights quickly. So most passengers will know if they are on a flight within 30 minutes, instead of waiting 24 hours for travel approval, said Tech Sgt Steven Hart, noncommissioned officer in charge of the passenger reservation center. He is deployed from Pope AFB, N.C.

The cargo management section handles the movement of more than 3,000 pallets of cargo a month. The section ensures airlift is available and that aircraft meet delivery dates.

“There used to be a backlog of more than 900 cargo pallets,” said Tech. Sgt. Maurice Wijnen-Riemes, the cargo management section senior controller. Since the center started operating in August, it has reduced the backlog to less than 300 pallets, said the sergeant, deployed from McChord AFB, Wash.

“The backlog of cargo has dropped tremendously,” Colonel O’Brien said. “It is quite an accomplishment.”

The aerial port center has maximized airlift in theater by filling the aircraft to maximum capacity, the colonel said. Before, some aircraft flew only 90 percent filled with cargo. Now the center coordinates so passenger or additional cargo can fill remaining 10 percent.

The in-transit visibility cell keeps track of “all the moving parts.”

Tech. Sgt. Keith Callwood, the in-transit visibility cell controller deployed from Dover AFB, Del., said, “We have visibility on flight missions, arrivals, departures, cargo and the number of passengers.”

Because of the control center’s flight-tracking capabilities, controllers know of flight delays and can transfer cargo or passengers to another flight, if necessary.

The center also established regularly scheduled flights around the region, known as channel missions.

“Channel routes are established so customers know there is reliable airlift,” Colonel O’Brien said. “This schedule adds consistency to our missions and leads to flight reliability for cargo and passengers.”

[SandRat]

Making flying in and out of the Combat Theater just a little nicer.

[E.G.C.]

BTT