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Commercial airlift carrier program assures rapid global mobility

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Aaron Jenne
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover relies heavily on civilian aircraft to ensure all mobility needs are met to deliver cargo when and where it’s needed.

The civilian cargo aircraft and crews, along with the structured contracts, allow Dover to meet all routine mobility demands while military teams and aircraft continue to support the ever-changing demands of the warfighter through contingency operations.

On average, Dover conducts 11 routine channel flights weekly, seven of which are contracted under commercial airlift carriers.

“These guys are able to provide a steady flow of channel cargo,” said Michael Brooks, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron transient maintenance flight chief. “They’re dependable and the break rate is very low on them. I’d say that’s one of the main reasons we’re using them."

These civilian aircraft, selected from U.S. airlines and contractually committed to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, augment DOD airlift requirements in emergencies when the need for airlift exceeds the capability of military aircraft, according to Air Mobility Command.

AMC holds international and national contracts with more than 23 carriers and 453 aircraft.

CRAF contracts are formed around two phases: an active and reserve status.

When activated, aircraft and crews become military assets, moving cargo and personnel, bolstering the military’s ability to maintain dominance through rapid global mobility and freeing military aircraft to focus on contingency operations.

In a reserve capacity, CRAF aircraft and crews function similarly to military Reserve members, becoming military assets during contracted missions and returning to civilian status upon return.

AMC last activated CRAF in 2002 during the height of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, but contracts continue to be issued through the reserve phase.

“It’s a valuable program,” said Jim Ewing, 436th Aerial Port Squadron operations manager. “I don’t think we’d be able to get a majority of cargo to where we need it to go if we solely relied on our military aircraft. Honestly, I believe the support we’ve seen from these civilian partners is the only reason CRAF hasn’t been activated since OEF and OIF. Without their willing participation, I’m sure we would have a hard time meeting all of our transportation demands.”

Commercial aircraft are very efficient at meeting transportation demands, Ewing said. The average C-17 flight is capped at 65 tons of cargo, while the average long distance C-5M flight is capable of carrying well over 100 tons. Its effective payload is based on the flight path, amount of fuel needed, the kind of cargo and potential for passengers.

In contrast, a Boeing 747, commonly the most contracted civilian airframe, is capped at 110 tons of cargo, Ewing continued.

With all the benefits civilian aircraft bring to the DOD’s global reach, military aircraft remain essential to ensuring rapid mobility.

The nature of military transportation is largely dependent on the needs of the warfighters, whose needs change in response to their situations and environments. Civilian aircraft bring stability to transportation through contracts, straightforwardly detailing their requirements. This also frees up military aircraft to focus more attention to the warfighter and being ready to support last-minute needs, said Ewing.

Commercial airlines don’t only affect day-to-day operations here. They also significantly affect the warfighter at the other end of the flight.

“Downrange, there are a lot of benefits of using civilian aircraft for transportation,” said Bruce Williams, 436th Operations Support Squadron airfield manager. “There are troops trying to take ‘R&R’ but get bumped due to changing mission priorities. There are men and women waiting on mail, which is extremely low priority on military aircraft, but if we can contract a civilian aircraft to regularly fly in mail or fly passengers, morale goes up.”

Master Sgt. Caleshia Claytor, 436th Operations Support Squadron deputy airfield manager, recently returned from a deployment where she witnessed firsthand the challenges of air transportation and the benefits of contracted civilian aircraft.

“We had a short landing strip, so we could only get cargo on C-17s and C-130s, and the amount of cargo they could deliver was reduced by the landing conditions,” Claytor said. “That meant we weren’t very likely to get anything personal like mail, because the military cargo had to get there. We benefited greatly from contracted civilian charters that moved cargo, equipment and troops in and out of theater. We even got a plane to come a couple times each week just to deliver mail. Everyone was pretty excited on mail days.”

The commercial airlift carrier program, even while inactive, has become a routine and necessary tool used by the DOD to ensure mobility, Ewing said.

“Both sides truly benefit from this program and the more we use them during peace times – the more we stay familiar with their capabilities – the bigger role they will play as an asset when we really need them.”