C-17's support Haiti mission

Several C-17 aircraft sit on the Charleston AFB flightline here Jan. 21. The planes were from bases such as Elmendorf, Alaska, Travis, Calif., Hickam, Hawaii and McChord, Wash. The Air Force's airlift capability enables the U.S. to respond immediately to any disaster domestically or worldwide. the U.S. is the only country with an aircraft fleet capable of providing this type of response. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Katie Gieratz)(RELEASED)

Guardsmen continue to support Operation Unified Response

Published Feb. 19, 2010
15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Two C-17 Globemaster IIIs from the 15th Airlift Wing and one from the 204th Hawaii Air National Guard continue support efforts at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., conducting missions into Haiti.

Capt. Christopher Keller, 15th AW pilot and aircraft commander, 1st Lt. Trenton Updike, co-pilot, and Airman 1st Class Chris Brink, loadmaster, provided updated information about their efforts.

This crew has flown three missions and 11 sorties, transported 150 thousand pounds of heavy equipment cargo and passengers, to include military personnel into Haiti and 40 American citizens and 4 displaced foreign nationals out of Haiti.

Since implementation of the Haiti Flight Operations Coordination Center, airfield capacity has increased by 1100 percent since pre-crisis (from 13 to 145 "slot" times per day), of which four-fifth's are used by international and civilian aircraft.

Currently, 560 US Air Force personnel are on the ground in Haiti supporting all aspects of the mission and are part of a larger joint response to the Government of Haiti's request for humanitarian aid. The total effort includes multiple U.S. agencies, 30 international partners, and hundreds of non-governmental organizations aggressively providing life-sustaining services to the people of Haiti.

C-17 crew members are scheduled to return to Hickam Feb. 2.