Company Transports Supplies Under Government Contract To Afghanistan

National Airlines weekly DC8 freighter service will add a second stop in Afghanistan, according to its parent company National Air Cargo. The flights transport equipment and supplies for that country's redevelopment efforts.

The Ypsilanti, MI based company began flying cargo into Bagram Air Base in April. The second flight will deliver goods to Kandahar Air Base. The flights originate from Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti every Friday

National Air Cargo is a freight forwarder  which operates three DC8 freighters made in the 1960s. The company belongs to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), and flies military cargo under contract to U.S. Transportation Command as part of the UPS team. CRAF participants provide airlift surge capacity during times of military crisis in exchange for receiving certain levels of contracts during peacetime.

The Afghanistan flights, however, are chartered by civilian contractors working for the U.S. military and other government agencies, according to Glen Gates, director of the company’s global charter management group.

DC8 File Photo

Each flight contains about 40 tons of supplies, including electrical generators; pumps, hoses and command stations for water purification systems; and medical supplies, to help with the construction of hospitals, power plants, water treatment facilities, libraries and other facilities in and around both air bases, Gates said.

FMI: www.nationalaircargo.com