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C-12 Huron Contributes to GTMO Mission

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101125-06
11/25/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Leona Mynes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Naval aviators attached to the Air Operations department aboard Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, completed a passenger and cargo service flight in a C-12 Huron logistics aircraft from the base to Miami Nov. 24.

The flight allowed the pilots to keep their qualifications up-to-date and their skills sharp, while supporting the base's mission and offering space-available seating to some base residents.

The two C-12s stationed aboard NS Guantanamo Bay have flown more than 300 flights in 2010, transporting approximately 800 passengers and more than 35,000 pounds of cargo to and from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., or Jacksonville, Fla.

The C-12 flies regularly scheduled Navy Air Logistics Office (NALO) flights as well as pilot training and proficiency flights.

"Our mission is to provide flexible and time-sensitive flights in support of base operations and tenant commands," said Lt. Steve Heggie, NS Guantanamo Bay Air Operations department schedules officer. "Because of that, our flight schedule is unpredictable."

Heggie, a native of Laurens, S.C., who has been a naval aviator for eight years, was trained to fly the EP-3E (ARIES II) signals intelligence reconnaissance aircraft, but currently pilots NS Guantanamo Bay C-12 Hurons as his shore duty.

Although flights are not regularly scheduled, C-12 flights allow service members and their dependents to travel free in compliance with Air Mobility Command (AMC) space-available eligibility requirements, said Heggie.

The operation of C-12s also offers NS Guantanamo Bay and its tenant commands the ability to travel for official business independently of regularly scheduled AMC rotator flights, which offer passenger air service up to two times per week for Guantanamo.

"The dynamic nature of our mission at Guantanamo Bay has also required flights to various destinations throughout the Caribbean, including Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in support of Operation Unified Response during January and February of 2010," said Heggie.

Guantanamo's C-12 fleet has made trips as far north as Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and as far west as New Orleans. Both locations are approximately 1,300 nautical miles from NS Guantanamo Bay, said Heggie.

The majority of these flights are transport missions, where pilots fly small troop movements, senior military commanders, congressional staff members, military working dogs and their handlers, and other high-priority and sensitive cargo shipments including calibration equipment, said Heggie.

Depending on the C-12's required fuel load, it can fly up to seven passengers and up to 1,500 pounds of cargo per flight.

"The personnel, supplies and equipment we transport in the C-12s are essential to our mission in our area of operation," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Edwards, NS Guantanamo Bay air boss. "We take great pride in the service we provide to the naval station and to our tenant commands."