[MilCom] Fwd: [MilRadioComms] Florida Air National Guard establishes Haiti flight center

[allanstern at aol.com]

Florida Guard Establishes Flight Center For Haiti
Coordinating The Flow Of Relief Supplies To Port-au-Prince

The Florida Air National Guard's 101st Air and Space Operations  Group here 
is paving the way for air operations in the emergency response to  Haiti. 
Florida Guardsmen have been working to assist the Haitian government,  FAA, 
and US Southern Command in coordinating the flow of supplies into Haiti's  
Port-au-Prince Airport since January 15.
 
The Florida Air Operations Group used its unique capabilities to establish  
the Haitian Flight Operations Coordination Center while operating from its  
center at Tyndall AFB, FL.
 
The model for the coordination center was developed after Hurricane Katrina 
 to smooth the flow of relief supplies into a disaster area.
 
"We are supporting the AFsouth Air Operations Center, the air component of  
US Southern Command, 24/7 to provide this capability," said Air Force Col  
Randall Spear, the AOG commander. "Supplies from around the world are now  
flowing into Haiti as a direct result of this effort."
 
"Previously, aircraft flowing into Haiti had a gridlock of several hours  
because there was no place to park or unload aircraft," Lt Col Brad Graff,  
director of the coordination center and chief of the 601st Air Mobility  
Division, said. "Now relief supplies - medical, water, and food - are steadily  
flowing into Haiti."
 
People from all over the world are talking with the Florida airmen to get a 
 slot time on the ramp, Spear said, adding that Haitian authorities are 
only  allowing landings from those with a slot time with the coordination 
center. The  Haitian authorities dictate their priorities and needs to the 
coordination  center through Southcom.
 
Florida Guardsmen also are assisting with the flow of air cargo into  
Homestead Air Reserve Base. They may pick up additional missions in other areas  
in order to maximize airlift to quake-ravaged Haiti.
 
"I am extremely proud of the professionalism of our Florida Guardsmen at  
the 101st AOG as well as the active duty airmen working beside them  
around-the-clock to ensure the protection of our homeland," said Air Force Maj.  
Gen. Douglas Burnett, Florida's adjutant general. "They are able to take their  
daily, superb skills and rise to new heights to ensure an effective air 
response  to a critical situation in Haiti." 
 
Working in Florida, and particularly being Florida Guardsmen, the 101st AOG 
 is experienced with natural disasters, enabling them to expedite the flow 
of  critical resources into the area. "We have become the experts in 
contingency  response and planning when it comes to employing air support in 
disasters,"  Spear said.
 
ANN Salutes Lt. Col. Ron Tittle serving with the Florida National Guard  
public affairs.

AL STERN  Satellite Beach  FL
AllanStern at aol.com
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