Aerial porters unload cargo for all of Iraq

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. R. Michael Longoria
  • 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq Public Affairs
AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFNS) --  When a runway closed in Turkey, officials scrambled to find another way to get supplies to U.S. forces in Iraq.

The answer was quite simple; the Federal Aviation Administration-approved flightline at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, which is the only place in country where civilian U.S. flagged aircraft can land.

"Why not here," said Master Sgt. Kenneth Morain, the 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Air Mobility Flight superintendent. "It's safe, and it allows us to move cargo and passengers in and out of country without having to stage it somewhere else."

Being the hub for commercial air services, the air mobility flight here has a very unique mission of helping get supplies to the hands of service members as they advise, train and assist the government of Iraq.

"We are the only aerial port in Iraq that handles both commercial passengers and cargo," said Capt. Jared Newman, the 532nd EOSS AMF commander. "We are the hub for commercial air coming into and out of Iraq. We are excited about the work, and are happy to have this mission."

The AMF flight here  recently took on a commercial cargo mission and made history by unloading its first Boeing 747 earlier this month, he said. Since then, the aerial porters have offloaded several more 747s, each capable of carrying 42 pallets or more 180,000 pounds.

"It's an additional workload, but we are set up to handle it," said Staff Sgt. Todd Moreau, the 532nd EOSS AMF passenger services NCO in charge. "It keeps us busy, but no matter what it, gets done efficiently."

The team had to build up an extra cargo yard to store the increased amount of cargo coming in.

"A lot of cargo is landing here and it's not staying," Captain Newman said. "There was fear of a backlog, but we are able to get the cargo out to the warfighter quickly."

The flight moves about 180,000 pounds of cargo a week, ranging from spare parts to building materials.

"It is support cargo for all of Iraq," Sergeant Morain said. "The various supplies support all the different units throughout the area of responsibility."

The team also launches multiple commercial passenger missions a week, officials said. The commercial passenger program saves more than $230,000 per aircraft by moving passengers directly from here to their home station, bypassing multiple air hubs along the way.

In total, the program has saved more than $41 million dollars since it began in July 2010, according to officials.

"It saves money by saving time," Sergeant Morain said. "Service members can fly directly from here back to the United States. A commercial jet can carry two battalions of Soldiers, so the Army is able to move entire units at one time."

Flying commercial airliners in and out of here has multiple benefits including freeing up military airlift for operations in Afghanistan, Captain Newman said.

"More than the money, the big savings at this point is in gaining some effective transportation efficiency." Captain Newman said. "By utilizing our commercial partners, we are freeing up Air Force assets for other operations. It's more effective to fly cargo on a commercial 'bird' directly from the 'CONUS' to Al Asad (Air Base) than it is to fly that same cargo to another location in Southwest Asia and then disbursing it into theater on multiple missions via (military aircraft)."