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Rotary Wing apron introduced in Shindand

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jamie Humphries
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan --  Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, increased its capacity recently when officials opened a new rotary wing apron with a goal of increasing capability to stage rotary wing aircraft.

The apron, approximately 112,000 meters in size, has the ability to park 18 UH-60 Blackhawks, 14 CH-47 Chinooks and 10 AH-64 Apache helicopters. The apron will be used as a staging and servicing area for units belonging to Task Force Spearhead which also operate out of Shindand.

The project started in September and was completed four months ahead of schedule said officials.

"The opening of the apron is just one of many construction projects taking place here at Shindand," said Col. John Hokaj, Commander of the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group. "It is a critical milestone in moving forces to the Far East Expansion and the building of a new training runway."

Agencies contributing to the project included the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tetra Tech Incorporated, Yuksel Incorporated and members of the 838th AEAG. The private contractors employed more than 230 employees to help finish the project early.

Although the apron is not currently slated to be a staging area for medical evacuations, it will eventually be handed over to the Afghan air force for their use in facilitation of operational missions.

"We continue to work hard in developing Shindand with a goal of the base becoming the crown jewel of the Afghan air force," said Hokaj. "This project is the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort put forth by different organizations and I'm glad to be associated with the outcome."

In July, Shindand expanded nearly three times its original size becoming the second largest airfield throughout Afghanistan. The expansion has an ultimate goal of making room for a new 1.3-mile NATO training runway with construction scheduled to begin early 2012.