APEX program produces results

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Abigail Wise
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Dover Air Force Base has been saving man hours and improving loadmasters' crew rest with an Air Force Smart Operation for the 21st Centurys program. 

The Aerial Port Expediters program began at Dover February 2007 for the C-5 Galaxy and February 2008 for the C-17 Globemaster III, to accomplish the Air Mobility Command's velocity initiative. 

APEX provides the capability for aerial ports to load and offload all types of cargo without the presence of a loadmaster. This achieves the AMC velocity initiative, which calls for faster transition for the aircraft from ground to sky. APEX reduces aircraft ground time and allows for a more efficient use of the crew duty day. 

Michael Williams, 436th Aerial Port Squadron APEX program manager, said he is very proud of the work being done by the APEX program here at Dover. 

"Our mentality at Dover regarding how we load airplanes is incredibly focused," said Mr. Williams. "This is due to our busy flow. Not everyone is as busy as we are. We're a little higher manned than McGuire and Charleston, but have a higher flow of cargo." 

Mr. Williams keeps meticulous records to statistically show the progress and success of the program. 

This year's weekly average of cargo being moved by APEX is 433 tons, said Mr. Williams. More than 200 aircraft have been APEXed in the last two months. So far this fiscal year the C-17 APEX program has moved 5,086 tons, and the C-5 with 15,709 tons. 

"It's a growing program worldwide, but we are, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the most robust home station program," said Mr. Williams.
Currently, there are 21 people APEX qualified on the C-5 and 15 people APEX qualified on the C-17 here. This group of APEX-qualified personnel are nearly single-handedly moving all this cargo. 

Each time APEX does a load they report it to Kimberly Green, 436th Aerial Port Squadron foreman of ramp services, so she sees the direct impact and amount of time saved by these missions. 

"The APEX program came from the need to give the crews their full crew rest," said Mrs. Green. "After a landing and prior to the next take off the APEX load directors are able to take care of the plane so that the crew can just hop on board. The plane is nearly good to go. It saves them man hours and opens up time for the loadmasters to get their crew rest and do their job." 

There used to be two loadmasters on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That program is non-existent now due to the loosened limitations of the APEX program, said Mr. Williams. Those are immediate man hours saved. 

"Prior to the development of APEX we could only take down the struts. We had weight restrictions and limitations on amount of rolling stock and no hydraulic operation. Now we can do everything we have to do to get the aircraft loaded. Our people are trained, capable and monitored and can handle almost anything," explained Edward Barrett, 436th Aerial Port Squadron day shift supervisor, C-5 Galaxy instructor and C-17 Globemaster III evaluator. 

Mr. Barrett performs no-notice inspections and reports back to Mrs. Green. Together they work out possible issues. 

"They are heavily monitored and inspected to keep an eye on the new program and to keep things working smoothly," said Mr. Barrett. "The focus is doing what we can to help the team. If we can get the cargo prepared, ready and loaded then the crew has a two minute stop rather than a 45 minute to an hour stop." 

Mr. Barrett said he takes pride in knowing that Dover APEX is the best that they can be. 

"I want there to be peace of mind when a loadmaster knows that the plane was APEXed by Dover APS. I make sure we dot our i's and cross our t's. I want to know if there are any problems, so we can fix them as soon as possible." 

The expediters, while maintaining their proficiency on the C-5 and the C-17 regular loads, must be ready for any kind of shipment that comes through. 

"Another thing that makes APEX here at Dover unique," said Mrs. Green, "is the diverse variety of cargo we have to move. We've seen anywhere from tanks, huge satellite dishes and even a giant squid."