Commercial flights move servicemembers around Africa

  • Published
  • By Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy
  • Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (AFPN) --  The secretary of defense recently granted a waiver to allow Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa members to partner with a civilian contractor to take American servicemembers from major cities in the area of operation and fly them to smaller, remote locations.

Secretary Robert M. Gates approved the waiver to mitigate the risk for individuals and to assist in the productivity of CJTF-HOA members downrange.

Traveling to major cities throughout East Africa is fairly easy to do via government and commercial air, but getting to the little known cities can take several hours if traveling on roads that are bumpy and unimproved. Also, it is not always practical to send a C-130 Hercules.

"In areas like that are fairly austere, we just don't have the capability to land some of the combat aircraft we have," said Col. John Crocker, the CJTF-HOA Air Component Coordination Element director and the 449th Air Expeditionary Group commander. "A C-130 can go a lot of places, but a small, narrow dirt strip isn't going to work for a C-130, which is why using smaller planes to transport personnel and goods is essential to the CJTF-HOA mission."

Instead of CJTF-HOA members flying into a major city then getting a hotel and waiting for ground transportation for a five to eight-hour vehicle trip, they can get off one plane and onto another with less hassle.

"It's quite a thrill to walk into an airport and walk out to a smaller plane that is ready to take us to our next destination," said Navy Capt. Tom Broderick, the CJTF-HOA executive assistant. "It's very user friendly, and we shaved a five-hour drive down to a 45 minute flight. This is a great capability that will allow CJTF-HOA to move personnel around more efficiently."

A small airline based in Nairobi, Kenya, has been contracted and began flying for the U.S. military in early December. The company consists of six, twin-engine turbo propeller planes, holding up to 19 passengers.

"It's in the early stages, but we're planning on four trips a week, 16 per month," Colonel Crocker said. "The cost is $1,800 an hour, whereas it would cost roughly $3,000 to $4,000 to have a U.S. Air Force C-130 make a comparable flight. The program frees up some of the combat aircraft to stay in combat." 

This new mode of travel will also enable unit members to travel great distances to reach project sites or to acquire supplies, Colonel Crocker said.

"This extended reach will help those who are out there digging wells and looking after livestock and making a difference among the villages," Colonel Crocker said. This is a great opportunity to expand our capabilities downrange.

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