Program Aims To Rebuild Country's C-130 Fleet
While taking to the skies has some inherent risk, advances in
technology, stringent maintenance requirements and rigorous
training procedures for aircrews have contributed to a safe aerial
environment in most parts of the world. But some parts of the world
lack basic infrastructure and technology such as radar or air
traffic control. Formal maintenance programs for aircraft do not
exist, and communication between pilots and ground personnel is
sporadic or nonexistent.
These are just a few of the air domain challenges faced by many
of the 54 nations that make up the African continent. Since it
stood up as the air component for US Africa Command on October 1,
members of US Air Forces Africa have been building a program aimed
at bolstering air safety and security on the continent.
Air Force Lt. Col. David MacKenzie, deputy director of the plans
directorate, traveled to Nigeria in January to work with Nigerian
and US aviation experts on charting the future of Nigeria's air
domain program and to give a presentation on the US search and
rescue program and its capabilities.
"This was really a comprehensive and synchronized effort ... to
enhance partner capacity in building Nigeria's air domain,"
MacKenzie said.
During the first portion of his visit, MacKenzie brought his
expertise as a C-130 pilot and instructor to an assessment of the
Nigerian air force's C-130 fleet and its logistics program. With
only one of Nigeria's eight C-130s currently airworthy, the team
evaluated the others for possible reconstitution, placing heavy
emphasis on the maintenance required to keep them safely in the
air.
"It's not just about fixing the aircraft," MacKenzie said.
"There is a big sustainment piece in the supply, logistics and
training areas as well. Spare parts should be available, and a
supply system for technical orders and back-shop equipment, plus
training for your maintenance, communications and supply people is
required."
Ultimately, the goal of rebuilding the C-130 fleet is to
facilitate Nigeria's commitment to contribute more support to
peacekeeping operations on the continent through airlift of
indigenous or neighboring troops and equipment, officials said. On
the ground, Nigeria is building a force of seven peacekeeping
battalions to support African Union and United Nations peacekeeping
operations in Liberia, Sudan and Somalia.
"Right now, they have very limited
ways to get people to the fight or sustain them when they are
there," MacKenzie said.
His findings during this assessment will help to shape future
theater security cooperation plans with Nigeria as issues are
addressed through military-to-military capacity-building events led
by the California National Guard in the State Partnership Program,
joint exercises, conferences and senior-leader engagements.
While the Nigerian air force is focused on refurbishing its
C-130 fleet, its civil aviation leaders are taking a hard look at
equally important search and rescue procedures.
"Search and rescue really takes a coordinated approach,"
MacKenzie said January 20 in Abuja, the country's capital. "They
discussed the need to exercise their programs ... through tabletop
and field exercises ... so they'll be better prepared when
something happens. That's not the time you want to be testing your
communications and procedures."
MacKenzie used the recent US Airways emergency landing in New
York's Hudson River as an example of well-practiced rescue
procedures.
"We talked about the quick response of the rescue folks on the
ground as part of that success story," MacKenzie said. "Those who
had boats in the water -- Park Service, ferry operators, New York
City police -- wasted no time in getting to the wreckage to render
aid to the survivors. That was critical in minimizing injuries and
saving lives."
Though acknowledging the Nigerian air domain has "significant
gaps" in its safety and security procedures, MacKenzie was quick to
compliment officials on their bird and safety hazards program,
describing the country's main port city, Lagos, as a "sprawling
city with lots of birds" that pose hazards to aircraft.
A three-tiered air domain safety and security program is
designed to capitalize on "natural air linkages," where US Air
Force programs and capabilities can contribute to increasing
capacity within the military and civil aviation programs on the
continent.
Speaking at the African Aviation Leadership Conference in
August, a Federal Aviation Administration official noted that in
the 10-year period between 1994 and 2004, African nations accounted
for only 4.5 percent of the world's total air traffic, but had a
startling 25 percent of aviation accidents.
"We hope the Nigerians establish a safe and efficient air domain
model in Nigeria, and hope it takes root and spreads," MacKenzie
said. "It will if the leaders there have the political will to
share and teach others in the region."
(Aero-News salutes Air Force Maj. Paula Kurtz, with the 17th
Air Force public affairs office.)