International C-17 Wing Fully Operational

The multi-national Strategic Airlift Capability Heavy Airlift Wing declared full operational capability Nov. 14 with its fleet of C-17s at Pápa AB, Hungary, according to a wing release. “We have forged a great example of pooling and sharing, smart defense, and smart support,” said HAW Commander Col. Keith Boone, announcing the milestone to partner nation leadership at a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia, this week. As prerequisites to FOC, the wing demonstrated its full spectrum of assigned roles, with a full complement of aircraft and personnel, as well as sufficient facilities and logistics. “FOC is a significant achievement in the short history of the HAW. … We might be 12 nations, but we are one team,” added Boone. Since standing up in July 2009, the wing’s three C-17s have transported more than 24,000 tons of freight and 32,000 personnel, including missions to Afghanistan, Haiti, Pakistan, and South Africa.