Mission Complete for U.S. C-130, C-17 Aircraft Supporting Flood Relief

U.S. Air Force C-130 takes off Oct. 3 from Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala to deliver flood relief aid to Skardu Airport in northern Pakistan. U.S. military aircraft, working in close coordination with the Pakistan military, have transported more than 6.6 million kilograms of relief supplies and evacuated 21,000 people in the flood-affected regions of Pakistan during the last two months. Although the cargo aircraft flights have ended, U.S. commitment to supporting Pakistan’s flood relief efforts remains strong. In addition to continuing relief flights by U.S. military helicopters, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other U.S. civilian agencies continue to provide humanitarian assistance and recovery assistance throughout Pakistan in support of flood victims. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andy Kin)

Mission Complete for U.S. C-130, C-17 Aircraft Supporting Flood Relief

U.S. military aircraft, working in close coordination with the Pakistan military, have transported more than 6.6 million kilograms of relief supplies and evacuated 21,000 people in the flood-affected regions of Pakistan during the last two months. Although the cargo aircraft flights have ended, U.S. commitment to supporting Pakistan’s flood relief efforts remains strong. In addition to continuing relief flights by U.S. military helicopters, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other U.S. civilian agencies continue to provide humanitarian assistance and recovery assistance throughout Pakistan in support of flood victims. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andy Kin)

Mission Complete for U.S. C-130, C-17 Aircraft Supporting Flood Relief

A U.S. Air Force C-130 is positioned to unload humanitarian aid supplies Oct. 3 at Skardu airfield, Pakistan. U.S. military aircraft, working in close coordination with the Pakistan military, have transported more than 6.6 million kilograms of relief supplies and evacuated 21,000 people in the flood-affected regions of Pakistan during the last two months. Although the cargo aircraft flights have ended, U.S. commitment to supporting Pakistan’s flood relief efforts remains strong. In addition to continuing relief flights by U.S. military helicopters, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other U.S. civilian agencies continue to provide humanitarian assistance and recovery assistance throughout Pakistan in support of flood victims. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andy Kin)

Mission Complete for U.S. C-130, C-17 Aircraft Supporting Flood Relief

A U.S. Air Force C-130 performs a rolling offload of relief supplies at Skardu Airfield, Pakistan, recently. U.S. military aircraft, working in close coordination with the Pakistan military, have transported more than 6.6 million kilograms of relief supplies and evacuated 21,000 people in the flood-affected regions of Pakistan during the last two months. Although the cargo aircraft flights have ended, U.S. commitment to supporting Pakistan’s flood relief efforts remains strong. In addition to continuing relief flights by U.S. military helicopters, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other U.S. civilian agencies continue to provide humanitarian assistance and recovery assistance throughout Pakistan in support of flood victims. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andy Kin)

Mission Complete for U.S. C-130, C-17 Aircraft Supporting Flood Relief

Published Oct. 6, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar
U.S. AFCENT Combat Camera Team

PAKISTAN AIR FORCE BASE CHAKLALA, Pakistan -- As flood waters recede and Pakistan's aid delivery shifts focus from air to ground transportation, the Pakistan government informed the U.S. recently that U.S. military C-17 or C-130 aircraft and other international cargo plane airlift support was no longer required.

At Pakistan's request and with mission complete for these aircraft, the U.S. military flew its last C-17 and C-130 flood relief flights last weekend.

"Our C-130 and C-17 aircrews were honored to partner with our Pakistani allies in their time of need and rapidly meet their requests for heavy-lift assistance in support of flood relief," said Vice Adm. Mike LeFever, U.S. Defense Representative to Pakistan. "We remain ready and prepared to support emergent requests from the Government of Pakistan if such assistance is needed again in the future."

Although the cargo aircraft flights have ended, U.S. commitment to supporting Pakistan's flood relief efforts remains strong. The U.S. Agency for International Development and other U.S. civilian agencies continue to provide humanitarian assistance and recovery assistance throughout Pakistan in support of flood victims. In addition, U.S. military helicopter relief flights continue to operate from Ghazi Aviation Base near Tarbela and Pano Aqil Air Base near Sukkur, while the U.S. Air Force's contingency response element at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala continues to support the nationwide distribution of international aid to flood-affected Pakistanis.

Two U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft conducted the last fixed-wing missions to deliver flood relief supplies in Pakistan Oct.3, flying humanitarian supplies from Chaklala to the Skardu Airport in northern Pakistan.

"When you look at the numbers of folks who have been displaced by the flood, it's good to be able to help out," said Maj. Kevin Baylis, a U.S. Air Force C-130 pilot.

"We've been flying into Skardu, Ghazi and around Pakistan delivering humanitarian relief supplies," said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Beresky, a U.S. Air Force loadmaster. "Normally there are about four pallets, each weighing about 7,000 pounds, of mainly wheat and water, any other supplies... that people need. We've airlifted probably between 75 to 100,000 pounds a day -- roughly about 25,000 pounds per flight."

From the start, U.S. military C-130 and C-17 aircraft made significant contributions to Pakistan's flood relief. In addition to the delivery of more than 436,000 halal meals during the early days of the disaster, these aircraft and their aircrews worked in close partnership with Pakistan's military and National Disaster Management Authority to transport more than 5.5 million pounds (nearly 2.6 million kilograms) of much-needed relief supplies to flood victims nationwide. The aircraft were also instrumental in the evacuation of thousands of people from flood-affected regions of Pakistan.

"I would say it's definitely significant that we were able to come up here and provide the support...we got a lot done," said Maj. Baylis.

"I personally feel proud as a reservist, being one of the first to be staged here," said Sergeant Beresky. "This is what you train for -- going to a forward deployed location like this, flying the missions, getting things done as you need to, and delivering the supplies that need to be delivered."

To date, U.S. military personnel and aircraft, working in partnership with the Pakistan military, have delivered more than 14.5 million pounds (6.6. million kilograms) of relief supplies and evacuated more than 21,000 people throughout Pakistan's flood-affected areas.