Two billion pounds and counting
Released: April 6, 2003
MIKHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania (USAFENS) -- It weights well over two billion pounds, is four rows deep and more than a quarter mile long. This gigantic line of pallets on the flight line here is a prime example of how busy the U.S. military component here has been.
As an air bridge the 458th Air Expeditionary Group at the air base acts as a hub between U.S. Air Forces Europe and the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
While some items are transported by ship using the Constanta port approximately 20 miles away, a majority of the items are flown in on C-17, C-130, C-5 and C-141 aircraft.
The task of loading, unloading and shuffling this seemingly endless stream of pallets at the air base falls heavily on the shoulders of 10 members in the 485th AEG ramp management section and the 57 members from the Tanker Airlift Control Element here.
With an average of 10 shipments coming in per day, Staff Sgt. Carlos Clements II, ramp management section member, describes his job as "moments of chaos."
"You try to keep ahead of it so you don't get bogged down," Clements said. "But things are constantly changing."
On top of frequent changes members have to deal with one of the biggest factors of them all: time.
"We do a lot of EROs (engine running offload/on load)," said Tech. Sgt. Jay Spencer, TALCE member.
During an ERO aircraft land, taxi to the ramp and then it is unloaded and/or loaded without turning the engines off, according to Tech. Sgt. James Grant, TALCE member. The aircraft is then quickly on its way to it's next destination.
"A lot of the (ERO) aircraft we have been doing in 25 to 40 minutes," said Grant.
"It's amazing to see how fast (an ERO) can be done and yet maintain such a high level of safety," Spencer said.
All of the TALCE and ramp management members are either load masters by trade or have extensive training related to it, which significantly helps get the job done. Simply put, load masters ensure that the pallets are packed and secured well. They also have the vital role of ensuring the aircraft is not over loaded or out of balance.
Knowing what the aircraft loadmaster needs helps the section ensure that the pallets are fully ready to go before they take them out to the aircraft.
Sometimes this means repacking and adding straps.
"Whatever it takes to get the job done," Clements said. "We make sure everything is out there and ready for them," Clements said. "The (aircraft loadmasters) just have to get on the plane, do their last minute stuff and go."
As the ramp manager, Smith knows all too well that it takes more than a section of 10 people to get the aircraft off the ground. All 3,000-plus members at the air base from maintenance to supply squadron members have a critical role in accomplishing the mission.
"Right now (the air base) has nearly a 100 percent launch rate out of here," Spencer said.
It has not been determined yet if the U.S. military component at the air base will become a permanent fixture in Romania or not. However, there is little question of what keeps Smith and his crew motivated.
"It's a great feeling when you launch the plane and get them on with their mission," said Clements.
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