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Shindand AB ushers in new strategic runway

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jamie Humphries
  • 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan --  Airmen from the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, opened a critical strategic taxiway July 27 allowing for simultaneous strategic and tactical airlift.

Officials from the 838th indicate the event marks a dynamic shift in Shindand AB strategic vision and war-fighter capabilities by improving airfield safety, capacity and efficiency to Shindand AB coalition forces.

While specifically designed to support Air Mobility Command C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy traffic, the taxiway can also support civil air reserve fleet B-747s as well as expedite the transport of critical training parts and simulators for Afghan air force training, explained Master Sgt. Chad Schuch of the 838th AEAG.

The significance of the taxiway, according to Shindand airfield managers, is the elimination of the required two-hour runway closure usually required with each C-17 arrival. Additionally, while a C-17 is parked on the new taxiway, fixed and rotary-wing missions can continue without interruption.

A C-17 from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., arrived at Shindand and parked on the new 400-foot taxiway picking up more than 100 passengers from the 183rd Maintenance Company and more than 15,000 pounds of baggage. The finished strategic airlift apron project will support two C-5s and include a passenger and cargo terminal and cargo yard allowing for storage of equipment and supplies.

"Before the opening of the new runway, C-17 traffic adversely impacted the base's fixed-wing combat airpower missions and had significant impact on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance," said Capt. Billy Wilson, Deputy, Director of Operations.

Shindand AB is now postured to simultaneously support strategic and tactical airlift while sustaining agile combat airpower added Wilson.

The construction project began in November of 2010 with ECC International Constructors and Tepe-Metag Joint Venture acting as the main contracting agent. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, airfield operations and the air terminal operations center also played an important role in an effort to improve air operations at the base.

Participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony was 838th AEAG commander Col. John Hokaj and Col. Benjamin Wham, Commander Afghanistan Engineer District South. Hokaj explained why opening the strategic taxiway was such a crucial step in the development of Shindand AB.

"Shindand is now one step closer to becoming the premier Afghan air force undergraduate pilot training base and theater logistical hub for western Afghanistan," said Hokaj.

With Shindand continuing efforts to become the premier AAF training base, future construction projects are planned including an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance apron and shelters for 28 aircraft as well as a strategic and ISR apron with room for a new parallel training runway. Once complete, Shindand will have the only dual-runway airfield in Afghanistan said Capt. Greg Ward of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Now that the new taxiway is open, execution of daily flight operations becomes easier to plan and execute said experts at the base.

"The training mission will no longer need to be planned around C-17 aircraft. Both can now operate simultaneously without impact," said Wilson.