Loading_Platform_History_Atch_3.docx

Specifications Need Background

In 2017, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) arrived here to support the humanitarian relief efforts for three hurricanes. They used the Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Air Terminal as their base of operations for all three. These efforts required the staff at the Air Terminal to support the on/offloading of these food and medical supplies from one thousand trucks (18-wheelers). This turned out to be 910, 463L pallets or seven million pounds worth of supplies. These supplies required airlift, which took 98 missions to those areas affected by the hurricanes.

The JBSA Air Terminal was ill equipped to handle such a strenuous and demanding task. After the hurricane operations had stopped, we looked at how we could better improve our operations in the event we had another similar situation.

Our on/offloading equipment is where we primarily fell short of meeting the needs demanded by FEMA’s workload. At that time, we had two single truck ramps, one of which was inoperable due to damage. This left us with one functional ramp to download one thousand trucks, which caused a huge bottleneck affect in the flow of our operation.

Looking at how we could improve our operations, we realized that we have the room and need for a bigger apparatus. We would like to double or triple our capabilities for future operations. This not only includes using forklifts and towing vehicles to on/offload 18-wheelers but also transferring vehicles. During the FEMA operations, we handled 53 vehicles, ranging from ERV’s (Emergency Response Vehicles) to SUV’s and so on.

The current design that we are looking for would allow up to three 18-wheelers to be downloaded simultaneously. It would have three truck-docking stations and two ramps. It would be used to on/offload trucks utilizing forklifts and towing vehicles when needed and it would allow us to transfer larger vehicles such as MATV’s, MRAP’s and ERV’s on and off trucks/K-Loaders.