Air Force C-12 transits Lajes

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  A U.S. Air Force C-12 Huron from Islamabad, Pakistan, visited Lajes Field to refuel during a mission to Canada.

During the short overnight stay at Lajes, Airmen at Lajes provided the support usually given to smaller aircraft trying to make it across the Atlantic. Its crewmembers also bedded down at the Lajes billeting.

Part of the services provided to the C-12, which is a military version of an executive passenger and transport aircraft, was marshalling and parking on the Lajes ramp, carried out by Airmen of the 65th Operations Support Squadron's transient alert.

The C-12 is used by the U.S. Air Force and other military services for several functions, including range clearance, embassy support, and VIP transports.

Delivery of the C-12J fleet in the Air Force began in 1992. The U.S. Air Force operated four C-12J aircraft in 2010; three of these aircraft are operated by the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and one is operated by Air Force Material Command from Holloman AFB, N.M.

In addition to providing cargo and passenger airlift, the aircraft is capable of transporting ten ambulatory patients during aero-medical evacuation missions.

While at Lajes, Airmen of the 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron issued about 400 gallons of JP-8 fuel before the Huron continued its mission to St. John's, the 20th largest metropolitan area in Canada.

"The Huron is no different than any aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory when it comes to doing our job," said Sergeant Stellflug, 65th Air Base Wing Fuels Service Center NCO in charge. "Our job here is to refuel all aircraft that stop at Lajes."