Aircraft Packed Full To Maximize Use Of Crowded Airport

Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived at the Haiti international airport after an early morning flight Jan. 16, 2010. As many as 3,500 troops were expected to arrive in the next few days to begin securing the area for aid drop-off after the January 12 earthquake.

Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division arrive in Haiti - DoD Photo

Air Force C-17s started hauling troops and equipment from the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment yesterday, with the rest of the 800 or so soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team being delivered by ongoing flights through the night.

The planes were packed, making use of every square inch of space. Soldiers stacked in with military vehicles, water and other equipment and supplies. With the airport here maxed out on its ability to manage the number of flights coming in and out, officials wanted to waste neither time or space.  With tents and other nonessential items left off the manifests, most of the troops coming to Haiti will be sleeping under the stars.

US Army paratroopers leave from Pope Air Force Base, NC - DoD Photo

“Air planes are stacked up the ‘wazoo’ up there trying to get down here,” one colonel said just before his troops exited the C17.

The military flights were delayed somewhat yesterday simply because of the limited capacity of the airport. It is, however, running 24-hour operations with flights coming in from around the world as nations reach out to one of the globe’s poorest countries.

"When we went in, we expected there to be worse conditions at the airport, but by the time we got there, all communication, navigation and lighting systems were up and running," said Air Force Lt. Col. William Baulkmon, a C-130 aircraft commander from the 179th Airlift Wing, based in Mansfield, OH. "We were really surprised at how well the airport was set up as we came in."

FMI: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2010/0110_haiti/