BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Members of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing opened Afghanistan's first permanent C-130 hangar during a ribbon cutting ceremony here March 14.
The newly completed hangar is a milestone for 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainers who have waited nearly two years for the completion of the facility.
According to Lt. Col. Phillip Howard, 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron commander, the new hangar offers a dramatic improvement for the Airmen responsible for maintaining Bagram's C-130 fleet.
"This facility would rival any C-130 hangar anywhere in the United States," said Colonel Howard.
Previously, C-130 maintainers were forced to conduct all work outside in Afghanistan's harsh environment, but the new 60,000 square foot, $18 million, two-bay hangar will provide needed protection from the elements.
"This facility will help boost the C-130 sortie rate and mission performance by allowing maintenance to continue working during inclement weather," said Colonel Howard.
While his predecessor watched the project for almost a year, Brig. Gen. Jack L. Briggs II, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, was excited to witness the hangar's completion during his tenure.
"The 455th AEW is charged to do three things -- we defend this base and we win, but the thing we do in the middle is we supply the fight. We supply the fight with combat power, and one of the most critical elements of what we supply is what the C-130 fleet does," said the general. "This facility takes our ability to supply the ground force commander with combat capability to the next level."
During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Maj. Rodney Boyd, 455th ECES Construction Management Officer, expressed what the new facility means to Bagram's tactical airlift mission.
"The concept of this facility was to provide reliable, logistical leverage for the ground support commander. The leverage is achieved through sustained C-130 airlift operations." Major Boyd said.