600,000 lbs to Iraq Everyday
Piece of Cake for Charleston AFB, according to the Post & Courier:
Five years ago, the base handled much less airborne cargo, serving mainly as a hub for supplies headed to South America. Cargo operations picked up after 9/11, but Dover Air Force Base in Delaware remained the busiest air hub for materials bound for Afghanistan and Iraq. Then a snowstorm in 2003 caused a roof at Dover to collapse. Dover's cargo operations eventually shifted to Charleston.
Now, tractor trailers stuffed with supplies rumble through the gates of Charleston Air Force Base at all hours, while more than 450 active- duty personnel, reservists and civilians pack pallets and load them onto 747s, C-17s and other cargo jets.
Each pallet has a special radio transmitter that allows service members in Iraq to track their cargo, similar to how civilians can follow their FedEx and UPS packages, Jacobson said. "It really hits you when you're on the phone and hear the guy's staticky voice and realize he's over there in Iraq waiting for his supplies."
On any given day, three to seven planes lift off with supplies. In 2006, planes hauled 132 million pounds overseas. Fastest delivery time from Charleston to Iraq: 17 hours for armor kits and other key materials.
Very impressive. This is why the US Armed Forces remain the best, with the best equipment!
Five years ago, the base handled much less airborne cargo, serving mainly as a hub for supplies headed to South America. Cargo operations picked up after 9/11, but Dover Air Force Base in Delaware remained the busiest air hub for materials bound for Afghanistan and Iraq. Then a snowstorm in 2003 caused a roof at Dover to collapse. Dover's cargo operations eventually shifted to Charleston.
Now, tractor trailers stuffed with supplies rumble through the gates of Charleston Air Force Base at all hours, while more than 450 active- duty personnel, reservists and civilians pack pallets and load them onto 747s, C-17s and other cargo jets.
Each pallet has a special radio transmitter that allows service members in Iraq to track their cargo, similar to how civilians can follow their FedEx and UPS packages, Jacobson said. "It really hits you when you're on the phone and hear the guy's staticky voice and realize he's over there in Iraq waiting for his supplies."
On any given day, three to seven planes lift off with supplies. In 2006, planes hauled 132 million pounds overseas. Fastest delivery time from Charleston to Iraq: 17 hours for armor kits and other key materials.
Very impressive. This is why the US Armed Forces remain the best, with the best equipment!
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