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C-17s inBy John A. Tirpak, Hungary Executive Editor A consortium at Hungary’s Papa Air Base greatly expands airlift capability for a group of European allies. But where does it go from here? n experiment in military airlift, playing out at a former Capability (SAC), is unique. The consortium comprises 10 NATO Warsaw Pact base in central Hungary, is being watched members and two other countries. with great interest by many members of NATO. Though it has a military hierarchy, it is not under NATO com- ATwelve nations have come together to jointly own and operate mand, nor is it an entity of the European Union or the United a trio of C-17 heavy cargo aircraft, sharing flying hours and costs Nations. The SAC is controlled by a steering committee (chaired according to their various needs. If the experiment succeeds, it by a US Air Force general officer, currently Maj. Gen. Mark O. could be a model for how NATO members, pressed by withering Schissler) that allocates flying time based on participant requests defense budgets, can buy military capabilities they must have, and contributions. Its operational organization, called the Heavy at a price they can bear. Airlift Wing (HAW), has been led by USAF officers, currently So far—and to the surprise of many—the experiment seems Col. Keith P. Boone. His successor is scheduled to be a Dutch to be a success. The arrangement, called the Strategic Airlift Air Force officer. 38 AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2011 Staff photo by JohnTirpak A. USAF photo by TabithaSrA. M. Lee A C-17 on the ramp at Papa AB, Hungary. Top: A HAW C-17 approaches the boom of a 100th Air Refuel- ing Wing KC-135 during a training mission over Germany. Here: TSgt. Joseph Johns, a USAF crew chief deployed to Papa, talks with a SAC C-17 flight crew on an airfield in Lithuania. Many HAW missions fly with no USAF crew aboard. USAF photo by TSgt. Wayne Clark AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2011 39 of the cost. Hungary offered Papa—an underused base fairly central to member countries in Eastern Europe—as the unit headquarters and operating location. Most participants provide aircrews; some of the less affluent countries provide security Staff photos by JohnTirpak A. forces and other personnel for the base. The three C-17s bear the markings of Hungary and the minimalist identifier “SAC.” Since going operational, the HAW has routinely moved personnel and supplies from Europe to NATO bases in Afghani- stan, but has also taken relief supplies to Pakistani flood victims and flown to Haiti in the aftermath of the powerful “I suspect there were a lot of skeptics” that the consortium approach would work, said Schissler, head of plans and policy for US European Command. Speaking during the HAW’s first change-of-command ceremony in June at Papa AB, Hungary, where SAC is headquartered, Schissler—the chair of the SAC steering committee—ran down a list of the HAW’s achievements. He noted that the wing went from concept to the start of base operations “in just two-and- a-half years” and has since amassed more Facilities at Papa range from Cold War-era derelicts (top) to a recently updated than 4,500 flying hours without a safety control tower (above), maintenance hangar, and administrative building. mishap. “Way too many” of those hours were in combat situations in Afghanistan, the aircraft on its own was a serious 2010 earthquake. The ability of countries Schissler said. financial challenge for Sweden. such as Hungary to make a gesture like This achievement is recognized as Other nations facing a similar require- that to Haiti or Pakistan is a source of “truly amazing” by diplomats and military ment wondered whether a group buy was great national pride, said HAW officials. professionals who thought the details of feasible. NATO looked at an Alliance The HAW is “a great arrangement for running a military entity by international purchase of heavy lift aircraft, taking as every country that belongs to it,” Schissler committee—each member having its own precedent its common acquisition, man- observed, “because we gain something foreign policy and security objectives— ning, and operation of the E-3 AWACS. that none of us have enough of, which would be impossibly complicated, he However, because Sweden—and later is strategic airlift.” added. “It’s only been five years” since Finland—were likely participants but not For the smaller countries, he said, “it the concept was first broached, Schissler NATO members, the arrangement moved brings them access to a whole group of said. He paid tribute to the members for outside the Alliance. nations on a regular basis.” There is also their commitment to make the concept “some prestige being associated with this work in spite of “the political upheaval of Cultural, Language Barriers multinational effort. … It’s absolutely the last few years,” chalking it up to each There was some urgency to do a deal. historic. You can’t find another unit that country contributing “some very talented Boeing had announced that, without fur- stood up and flew combat a month after people” to the enterprise. ther orders from the Air Force or foreign getting their first airplane. It just doesn’t The SAC consortium was conceived in buyers, it would begin shutting down happen.” 2006, when a number of NATO nations the C-17 production line. It was the last The US provides the consortium with identified a need for long-range, outsize chance to “get in on” the C-17 before crew training at its C-17 schoolhouse— cargo capacity beyond the performance the line closed. Altus AFB, Okla.—through the Foreign of tactical airlifters, such as the C-130. Eventually, a deal was struck. The char- Military Sales program. Because the Sweden, a neutral nation belonging ter members in the SAC were the NATO C-17 is an American aircraft and crews to the EU but not NATO, was deep in members Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, are schooled at an American base, initial negotiations to buy C-17s from Boeing. Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Po- regulations and procedures were grafted It needed a capability to move people land, Romania, Slovenia, and the United from USAF wholesale. That is gradually and large equipment directly to forward States, plus non-NATO Partnership for changing, said Lt. Col. Christian Lang- locations half a world away to meet its Peace countries Sweden and Finland. feldt, the HAW’s director of operations. UN peacekeeping commitments. How- The US contributed one of three C- Langfeldt, of the Norwegian Air Force, ever, the cost of buying and supporting 17s, a third of the personnel, and a third said the principal challenges facing the 40 AIR FORCE Magazine / October 2011 unit are “the culture [and] the language can he order anyone to support a mission for the HAW’s C-17s. About 50 Boeing barrier. We have to translate everything that person’s country has not approved. personnel work at the base and perform two times.” The steering committee meets four nearly all of the aircraft maintenance, There are other cultural hurdles. Nor- times a year for a heavy series of meet- although HAW personnel serve as crew way’s air force, for example, has no enlisted ings to plan the use of the aircraft, which chiefs. Several other buildings have been personnel, only officers. Some countries’ are budgeted for 3,165 hours a year, or renovated for living, dining, and office personnel are forbidden to work more than roughly 1,000 hours per airplane, although support functions. 40 hours a week, and there are different the actual hours flown in 2010 was about HAW personnel privately acknowledge rules regarding crew days and crew rest 2,800 hours across the fleet. It tries to plan Papa’s main shortcoming is the lack of a periods, for example. “The regulations the use of the aircraft as far ahead as pos- hangar that can enclose an entire C-17. The are different for all the varying countries,” sible, but some wiggle room is built in to wind and cold of the Hungarian cornfields Langfeldt said. “You have to understand accommodate pop-up requirements. In the surrounding Papa can make maintenance [that] things are different, [and] how you event of a conflict that can’t be resolved, on the big airplanes a trial in winter. receive words is important.” the nations have agreed to let the HAW “Think Minot,” one USAF member of USAF regulations are gradually being commander make the final call. the HAW said, referring to the Air Force shifted to account for the HAW’s unique So far, he has not had to serve as tie- base in North Dakota. “Imagine Minot in mix of people and national styles. “We’re breaker. winter without a hangar to work in.” The making it our own,” he said. “We try to issue has the attention of the steering com- show the Americans that it is possible to Papa’s Shortcomings mittee, and is stimulating a debate about do it in different ways.” A rail line runs adjacent to the base, and whether to stay at Papa, due to a financial Langfeldt said the various participants much heavy gear can be brought to the windfall coming to the SAC. have sent quality people to the unit. They airplanes for transport, although one senior The HAW’s three aircraft were bought in want to “put their best foot forward,” he officer described the condition of the rail a hurry because Boeing was getting ready to said.

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