Airfield Operations Flight keeps busiest airfield in Afghanistan operational

Department of Defense contractors monitor the airfield from the air traffic control tower at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Oct. 21. Many of the airfield operations functions, such as air traffic control and airfield management, are done through contracts and monitored by the 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Airfield Operations Flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez/released)

Airfield Operations Flight keeps busiest airfield in Afghanistan operational

Lt. Col. Kevin Virts, 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Airfield Operations Flight liaison, visits a construction sight on the flightline at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 22. As the liaison between the military and the numerous contractors involved with airfield management, Colonel Virts is responsible for monitoring the progress of multiple construction projects. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez/released)

Airfield Operations Flight keeps busiest airfield in Afghanistan operational

Lt. Col. Kevin Virts, 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Airfield Operations Flight liaison, checks in with an Airman assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron force protection. Although not part of the 455th EOSS, Colonel Virts regularly interacts with the force protection Airmen who help monitor the many construction contractors working on the flightline. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez/released)

Airfield operations flight keeps busiest airfield in Afghanistan operational

Published Oct. 27, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Thomas Tedone
455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Managing one the busiest airfields in Afghanistan can be challenging - it involves more than controlling air traffic and coordinating flights in and out. The crucial responsibility of keeping Bagram Air Field operational falls to the 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Airfield Operations Flight and the many contractors involved.

The Airfield Operations Flight is responsible for two distinct areas -- air traffic control services and airfield management.

The air traffic control function is similar to that of any other Air Force base or commercial airport, but more hectic due to the many different aircraft here. Bagram is home to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing and its fleet of A-10 Thunderbolts, C-130 Hercules, EA-6 Prowlers, F-15E Strike Eagles, HH-60 Pave Hawks, as well as a number of different Army and coalition aircraft. In addition to the diversity of the aircraft and pilots, air traffic control at Bagram is complicated by the high volume of flights arriving and departing this combat zone everyday.

"The contractors and their experience make the job easy and the air traffic control services run smoothly," said Lt. Col. Kevin Virts, who serves as a liaison between the contractors and military personnel for the 455th EOSS.

Perhaps the most visible responsibility for the airfield operations flight is airfield management for the expanding base. There are three types of airfield construction for the constant expansion and maintenance currently going on at Bagram. The first is called indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) and consists of contracts focused on important and ongoing small projects like fixing minor problems around the airfield. The second type of construction falls under operations and maintenance contracts. These are larger and more expensive than IDIQ contracts. One example of the many O&M contracts is the replacement of large slabs of deteriorating concrete. The third and most significant type of contracts are called military construction and includes construction projects with values more than $750,000.

According to Colonel Virts, there are four major MILCON contracts currently underway, totaling around $45 million. These include runway expansions and completion of two taxiways. In addition to the significant amount of expansion that is currently underway for Bagram Airfield, he indicated that there are plans for more than $130 million in MILCON contracts in the coming fiscal year.

"The expansions will keep the runway clear to get aircraft into the skies faster to support coalition forces and help defeat the enemies of Afghanistan," he said.

Through the construction projects, the 455th EOSS Airfield Operations Flight continues to expand Bagram's capabilities, transforming the once aging and neglected Soviet airfield into the modern combined and joint air operations hub it is today. As the busiest airfield in Afghanistan, the Airfield Operations Flight will long remain a critical component of the effort to keep our Airmen flying, fighting and winning the war against terror.