AAF Light Airlift
The AAF’s light-lift mission capability was expanding rapidly. In addition to the six Cessna 208 aircraft now in place for fixed wing pilot training, two more Cessna 208s are now in country to begin operational airlift missions. This number would continue to grow through the summer of 2013 to reach its full fleet of 20 operational C-208s.
The US Department of Defense noted a planned purchase of 32 "Cessna-like" aircraft for the Afghan Air Force for training purposes and Afghan pilots had been training on simulators for the Cessna 172. It later turned out that Cessna 182 Skylanes were purchased. There were open source reports that Cessna 208s were also purchased, bringing into question whether a total of 32 Cessna 182s would be purchased or whether this number included a planned 20 Cessna 208s. DoD documentation only mentions 20 Cessna 208. The Cessna 208s were also in service as light transports. The C-208 aircraft provides light-lift, personnel transport, CASEVAC, and human remains recovery capabilities for the ANDSF. TAAC-Air is working to expand the employment envelope for the C-208 by developing a soft field landing capability. This in turn will free up Mi-17s for other mission sets and operating environments for which it is uniquely designed. Although the AAF demonstrated the ability to employ C-208s in a basic ISR role this reporting period, this mission set is still in the early stages of development.
The reassignment of C-208 pilots to the A-29 and PC-12 aircraft continues to impact aircrew manning levels negatively. Low pilot manning is anticipated to continue through the end of 2016, with improvement projected as the number of pilot candidates in the training pipeline increase.
By 2018 NAC-A and TAAC-Air continued to expand the C-208 employment envelope by developing soft field landing and airdrop capabilities to free Mi-17 helicopters for other mission sets. C-208s operate from Kabul, Kandahar, and Shindand. C-208s can forward deploy to improved and some unimproved airfields throughout the country. The C-208 fleet relied on a mix of CLS and AAF organic maintenance.
NAC-A and TAAC-Air continue to help the AAF develop its nascent airdrop capability, with the intent to reduce demands on Mi-17s and increase operational flexibility. During this reporting period, the AAF conducted its second operational airdrop. Airdrop capability is limited to low threat areas due to the C-208 airdrop altitude, airspeed, lack of armor, and a maximum cargo load of 900 pounds. NAC-A and TAAC-Air advisors coordinate with other TAAC advisors to educate ANA commanders on the new AAF airdrop capability. TAAC-Air is coordinating the modification of the last five C-208 aircraft with rolling-door kits to facilitate the growing airdrop capability.
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