Airmen provide humanitarian relief to Caribbean Islands
By Airman 1st Class JaNae Capuno, 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs From US Air Force
The 437th Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, sent a C-17 Globemaster III, and accompanying crew members, to Mountain Home AFB to transport a mobile air traffic control tower to the Caribbean Islands.
The ATC tower was provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, and was requested by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide relief to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
“The Federal Aviation Administration office in Boise, Idaho, was tasked with supplying this equipment,” said Gregory Wickard, 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron air transportation specialist. “The FAA called our office because they weren’t sure how to prepare the cargo for airlift, and how to load the C-17. We had them bring the equipment to our base, where we did all of the prep-work.”
Working alongside the 437th AW, members of the 366th LRS had the tower prepped and fuel ready to ensure the aircraft was prepared for departure.
“It was out of the norm for us,” said Wickard. “Everyone in the work center played a part to get the work done on the flight line.”
Airmen from the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 15th Airlift Squadron load a mobile air traffic control tower onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Sept. 9, 2017. The air traffic control tower and a generator will help restore power to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class JaNae S. Capuno)
Senior Airman Michael Vetta, 15th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, locks down a mobile air traffic control tower inside a C-17 Globemaster III, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Sept. 12, 2017. The C-17 crew members delivered the equipment to Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class JaNae S. Capuno)
Airmen from the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 15th Airlift Squadron load a generator onto a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 9, 2017, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The equipment was provided to the base by the Federal Aviation Administration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class JaNae S. Capuno)
