Attachment_14--Site_Survey.docx

The following are excerpts from a site survey of key functional areas relevant to the proposed C-130H CLS mission. They site survey was completed by Headquarters AMC, HAF/A3, AFCENT, Robins C-130 FMS office, AFSAT, deployed Prime Beef Engineers, NATC-A, and the AAF.

SURVEY ASSUMPTIONS AND KEY PLANNING FACTORS:

Kabul C-130 Operations Facility Capabilities:

· Life Support Facility:

· Existing Capability: Existing facilities exist for aircrew support in all aspects of normal day-to-day operations to include inspection and repack of personnel parachutes and life rafts. Currently, no facilities exist for “cargo” parachute rigging and packing.

· Airfield Operations:

· Existing Capability: Kabul is an international airport with all of the standard airfield operations support. The airfield environment, to include the runways and taxiways are maintained by Kabul International Airport. The AAF maintains responsibility for operations on the military parking ramp at Kabul Air Wing. The current military ramp has adequate parking capacity for 2-4x C-130 aircraft.

· Air Traffic Control (ATC):

· Existing Capability: ATC services are provided by the civilian side of Kabul International Airport and are capable of supporting the C-130H mission. Tower maintains positive control of all traffic on the airfield and is capable of communication on both UHF and VHF frequencies. ATC services at Kabul are currently provided by coalition forces and contractors. However, the Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation has Afghan’s in ATC training which should allow for autonomous ATC services in the future.

· Base Operations:

· Existing Capability: The AAF has a dedicated operations support facility located on the flightline that houses base operations, weather, and aircrew flight equipment areas. Base Operations is able to accept flight plans from the aircrews and file them with Kabul tower via the phone. They also maintain a flight publication library that includes aeronautical charts and instrument approach plates. They are also equipped with a radio to communicate with aircrews.

· Weather Services:

· Existing Capability: The AAF forecasters at Kabul are fully operational and able to pull needed weather information from the Ministry of Defense system in order to provide briefings to aircrews.

· Aircraft Deicing:

· Existing Capability: Icing conditions exist at ambient temperature of 6 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit) or below and there is visible moisture in the area. The AAF should identify the area (or areas) they will use to conduct deicing operations with approved deicing fluid, taking into account compliance with local and national environmental standards. This may require a capability to capture deicing fluid/water runoff for proper treatment and disposal.

· Maintenance Hangars:

· Existing capability: There is a 2 -bay maintenance hangar complex capable of nose in only maintenance equipped with an overhead 10T hoist (currently inoperative), 220VAC/ 115VAC, 60Hz electrical power, 120 psi compressed air and heating throughout; a tail door modification must be made to safely allow for full hangar entry as the height of the hangar door opening only reaches 39.6’ and does not meet the USAF recommended planning requirements. The hangar dimensions are 152’W x 128’L x 39.6’H. The hangar lacks fire suppression systems and oil water separation. Additionally, Kabul has an awarded contract to build a new hangar that will accommodate C-130H operations as well. Existing hangars at Kandahar are not capable of supporting a C-130H aircraft. ETIC for new hangar unknown.

· Within the Joint Aircraft Facility (JAF)-1 maintenance hangar complex, sufficient facility capacity exists to support any additional space required for aircraft maintenance production, flight line maintenance, maintenance dispatch, tool and test equipment storage, and T.O. library. If more test equipment storage and T.O. library space is required for the addition of C-130H peculiar assets and T.O.s, the reallocation of existing space in JAF-1 (upper and lower levels) are adequate to fully support a right sized maintenance package. Additionally, there is ample space in Bay 1 of JAF-2 to create work space or cages for secure storage in the back corners of the hangar without impeding the hangaring of a C-130H aircraft.

· There is a new C-130 Hangar to be constructed to the northwest side of Apron 9. The project is already awarded and currently in the middle of a modification by US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The Notice to Proceed (NTP) was issued last month and construction was set to begin starting March of 2013. The hanger mod was submitted 31 Jan 13 and it is not expected to have a resolution from the USACE for several months. If approved, completion of the hanger would be at the latest December of 2014.

· Fuel Cell Support Hangar/Facility:

· Existing Capability: None exist

· Corrosion Control Hangar/Facility:

· Existing Capability: None exist.

· Aircraft Parking Ramp:

· Existing capability: Ample room on the parking apron to accommodate 4x C-130H aircraft. NOTE: Sporadic mooring and grounding points. New grounding points will need to be drilled in order to accommodate the new parking arrangement of the C-130s. Tie down points will need to be installed with the new C-130 parking arrangement.

· Engine/ Prop Shop and Storage:

· Existing capability: The current intermediate maintenance shop engine/prop bay area is suitable for the storage of C-130H engines (4-8) and propellers (4-8) to include space for an extra engine and prop dolly.

· Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE):

· Existing Capability: The newly constructed AGE storage yard areas were outstanding in terms of space. Aerospace Ground Equipment

· Back Shops

· Avionics and Comm/Nav Intermediate Maintenance Back- Shops:

· Existing Capability: None

· Battery Shop

· Existing Capability: JAF-2 can fully support the addition of the C-130H

· Structural Maintenance

· Existing Capability: Existing back shop space is more than adequate to support but lacks specialize equipment.

· Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI):

· Existing Capability: Operational NDI

· Brake and Hydraulics Shop:

· Existing Capability: None

· Wheel and Tire Shop:

· Existing Capability: The AAF currently possess a wheel and tire sufficient in space to accommodate additional C-130H workload, but lack specialized equipment

· Maintenance Operation Center (MOC):

· Existing Capability: AAF has an maintenance command and control area capable of supporting the entire fleet

· Technical Order (TOT.O.) and/or Country Specific Technical Orders (CSTOs) Library:

· Existing Capability: Adequate space is available

· Aircrew Maintenance Debrief:

· Existing Capability: No designated area exists.

· Supply/Logistics Facilities:

· Existing Capability: JAF-1 hangar, which sits to the east of JAF-2, has space for spare parts. Currently there is a space approximately 50 ft X 50 ft, that has ground and overhead storage which sits about 15 ft off the ground.

· Aircraft Fuel: Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL):

· Existing Capability: The AAF currently has fuel personnel and a fuel system in place. There are nine drivers and two laboratory technicians.

· AAF currently refuels using trucks, picking up fuel from an off-base location called Class III facility; round trip is approximately 60 minutes. The AAF is currently improving their refueling situation. With Refueling Maintenance in place, the AAF has sufficient quantities of refueling vehicles to support the current and projected C-130H program. Their vehicles are maintained in outstanding condition.

· Delivery method currently consists of six R-11 Kovatch Refuelers, operated by nine AAF drivers. These vehicles were observed in great condition with very low mileage. Of the six, one is on flightline alert for Presidential support and the other five are for aviation support (two are currently down for parts). It takes the AAF 30 min to 1 hour to fill the truck and meet a ten minute response time. This capability is completely autonomous.

· Liquid Oxygen (LOX):

· Existing Capability: There is a Liquid Oxygen (LOX) capability/vendor available, as well as Liquid Nitrogen (LIN) and Gaseous Oxygen (GOX). NOTE: GOX is sometimes difficult to obtain.

· Aerial Port Operations:

· Existing capability: The team observed adequate cargo/passenger facility with robust Materiel Handling Equipment (MHE) capability at Kabul. The AAF has sufficient MHE to handle C-130 operations.