Heavy Airlift Wing is fully operational

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  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
TALLINN, Estonia --  U.S. Air Force Colonel Keith P. Boone, commander of the Strategic Airlift Capability Program's Heavy Airlift Wing, declared that "Full Operational Capability" had been achieved for the multinational military Wing.

In a statement made during the semi-annual meeting of the SAC Steering Board and the NATO Airlift Management Program Board, held in Tallinn, Estonia, Boone stated "as the HAW Commander, I have the privilege to declare that effective 14 November 2012 the Strategic Airlift Capability Program's Heavy Airlift Wing has reached Full Operational Capability."
The SAC Program is a cooperative effort of 12 nations: Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden and the U.S. Its operational arm, the HAW, is stationed at Pápa Air Base, Hungary, and flies worldwide missions with Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

The HAW, established by a SAC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the 12 participating nations, was activated on July 27, 2009. It reached "Initial Operational Capability" on May 25, 2010. During this initial period, the Wing not only became a well-trained international military airlift unit, but also proved capable of supporting the SAC participating nations with strategic airlift missions in all major operational areas.

As preconditions for FOC, the Wing can safely and effectively conduct the entire range of missions assigned to it with three C-17 aircraft, full manning, sufficient infrastructure and logistical sustainment. The Wing is supported by the SAC participating nations; Hungary, host nation to the HAW and flag nation for the C-17 aircraft, the NATO support organization, also responsible for the acquisition, management and sustainment of the SAC C-17s and other assets; and, Boeing, responsible for Contractor Logistics Support through the Globemaster Integrated Sustainment Partnership. Post-FOC, the HAW is able to produce the annual flight hours required by the SAC participating nations.

Boone lauded the unit, "The men and women of the Heavy Airlift Wing, along with their families, have worked exceptionally hard to build a team that is second to none. Together with the mission partners here at Pápa Air Base and around the world, we have forged a great example of pooling & sharing, smart defense, and smart support. I am extremely proud to lead such a diverse, talented and focused team of professionals. FOC is a significant achievement in the short history of the HAW. The future remains before us, and it is bright indeed. We might be 12 nations, but we are one team, one mission, one vision!"

At the meeting in Tallinn, the SAC Steering Board Chairman, U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Thomas J. Sharpy, congratulated the HAW commander, stating "The SAC Program is at the forefront of the smart defense initiative; it offers a model for future consortium ownership of defense systems, and provides a template for smart support. Today, we celebrate another great accomplishment of our multinational partnership. The ability to declare FOC is a significant milestone. It reflects a long list of success stories and an incredible journey for this unique and relatively young organization. The HAW has demonstrated the ability to safely deliver personnel, supplies and cargo across a wide range of missions including combat, humanitarian, disaster relief and aeromedical evacuation operations. SAC participating nations are also thankful to those organizations providing support to the HAW, especially the host nation and the NATO support organization."

Since the delivery of the first aircraft in July 2009, the HAW has flown more than 8,000 flight hours, delivered more than 24, 000 tons of cargo and moved more than 32,000 passengers for the SAC nations over six continents, including missions to Haiti, Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Africa and Europe. More information is available at www.heavyairliftwing.org.