Quick set up for Operation Odyssey Dawn

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Dobrydney
  • 313th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
313TH AIR EXPEDITIONARY WING, U.S. Air Forces in Europe --  The Air Terminal Operations Center here normally saw four to five sorties each day.

Recently however, they've seen 15 to 20 flights, all of which must be serviced in some way and offload cargo and passengers or take them on board. The flights are in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, a no-fly zone established to safeguard the people of Libya.

"ATOC is sort of the central nervous system," said Staff Sgt. William McKenzie, air transport quality assurance NCO in charge.

"We coordinate with each section to make sure what cargo needs to be offloaded, how many passengers are getting off or getting on, whether the aircraft needs fleet service, etc.," he said.

If an aircraft is taking on cargo, ATOC ensures it is airworthy before it is loaded, added the air transport supervisor for the contracted company that operates the ATOC.

Prior to the start of Odyssey Dawn, the ATOC would generally see a handful of flights in a 16-hour shift, normally fighters headed to or returning from downrange. Since then, they have shifted to 24/7 operations and have seen more flights and passengers in the past week than in the rest of the month combined, with more than 327,000 pounds of cargo offloaded and more than 400 passengers arriving.

An air terminal operations specialist said the current atmosphere is similar to 2001 when the base saw another increase in cargo flights.

"Planes were flying around waiting to land," he recalled. "Now, it'sstill  more workload than we're used to, but it'll be a piece of cake."

The supervisor stated that he is proud of his team of 25 contractors, including both Americans and local nationals, stepping up to the task at hand.

"It's a melting pot ... everyone's working together," he said. "Our policy is whatever you give us, we're going to get it done."