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AMC responds to call for humanitarian relief

  • Published
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILL. --   In the days following the massive earthquake that struck northern Pakistan Oct. 8, Air Mobility Command aircraft have flown numerous relief missions into that region.

The 6.7 magnitude quake, the most powerful to hit that country in its 58-year history, has taken an estimated 40,000 lives, and the United Nations estimates that another 2.5 million people have been displaced.

C-17 Globemaster IIIs positioned in that part of the world were the first AMC resources called into action, delivering emergency relief supplies, equipment and helicopters to Pakistan. According to a senior controller at the Tanker Airlift Control Center here, the C-17s are "on loan" to U.S. Central Command in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

AMC also called on a Contingency Response Group-Element to deploy in support of earthquake relief operations. Two C-17s and more the 45 members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., deployed to Pakistan Oct. 10. In addition to CRG personnel, the C-17s delivered an estimated 200,000 pounds of supplies and equipment, including vehicles, cargo loaders, a 10k all-terrain forklift, communication equipment and generators.

The CRG-Element will set up air mobility operations in Pakistan. McGuire AFB officials said establishing air operations is the first step in getting more relief supplies into the area.

The 621st CRW is one of two specialized wings in the Air Force responsible for training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields in remote locations. A second unit, the 615th CRW, is located at Travis AFB, Calif. Both wings are no stranger to humanitarian relief operations. AMC deployed several CRG-Elements to the U.S. Gulf Coast region in support of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita relief operations in August and September.

Col. Diane Byrne, a TACC senior controller, said AMC is planning many more humanitarian relief missions into Pakistan. In fact, the colonel said, AMC aircraft are scheduled to deliver about two dozen CH-47 Chinooks within the next few days. The helicopters are being provided by three U.S. Army installations: Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Sill, Okla.; and Fort Drum, N.Y.

The CH-47 is a twin-engine, tandem rotor helicopter designed to transport personnel and cargo. Each CH-47 is about 50 feet long and can carry about 33 passengers and three crew members.

According to Colonel Byrne, delivering the large helicopters will require creative planning and numerous missions. In fact, she said a special group of TACC planners were brought in Oct. 10 to develop and propose a plan to deliver the large helicopters. According to the colonel, a C-5 Galaxy -- the Air Force's largest transport aircraft -- can carry two CH-47s, while the C-17 Globemaster can carry only one.

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