TACC builds, maintains intercontinental 'airbridge'
Not a bridge in the traditional sense, but an airbridge between continents. The TACC is a 24-hour, seven-day a week operation.
The organization is the Air Mobility Command hub for planning and directing tanker and transport aircraft operations around the world.
Arnie Schmith, TACC director of mobility operations, said one of the most important TACC missions is getting forces to the fight by building and using the airbridge.
"The 'airbridge' is the aluminum structure of aircraft in the sky and support elements on the ground that we use to span the oceans, getting everything needed to the fight," said Schmith. "If it's got to get there fast and by air, it goes across the 'airbridge.'"
"It's the backbone of any mobility operation into an area of responsibility," said Maj. Gen. Mike Wooley, commander of the Tanker Airlift Control Center. "It basically has three components: the first is Global Reach Laydown, the second is strategic airlift, and the third, aerial refueling."
Any bridge needs a support structure. Ground support must be available both where an aircraft takes off as well as where it lands. Global Reach Laydown is that support for AMC aircraft for each leg of a mission. In the United States, Air Force bases provide ground support. In forward-deployed locations, the TACC sets up Tanker Airlift Control Elements.
A TALCE may range from 20 to as many as 200 personnel, depending on the location. A TALCE at an existing base in theater will have fewer people and need fewer resources to accomplish their mission. A TALCE in a forward-deployed location, where there is no military airfield, requires more people and equipment.
"They bring in everything they need to accomplish their mission…right down to the kitchen sink," said Wooley. "Tents to sleep in, command and control equipment, secure communications, parts and supplies, 60k loaders and forklifts, and all the people needed to handle the cargo and fix the airplanes. They are unsung heroes who are moving the mission to get mobility where and when needed all over this globe," said Wooley.
AMC's large cargo aircraft, the C-17 Globemaster III, C-5 Galaxy and C-141 Starlifter form the spans of the airbridge to ensure that a continuous flow of cargo and passengers is deployed to forward locations.
Air refueling by KC-10 Extenders and KC-135 Stratotankers is the third part of the airbridge.
"They give us the opportunity to not only fuel the strategic aircraft, but also the capability to refuel the fighters and bombers going into the area of responsibility. All the parts are in constant motion loading and unloading passengers, cargo, and fresh crews to ready the aircraft for the next leg of its mission."
This unique capability is an integral part of deploying fighter aircraft, people and equipment across the airbridge to the fight. Since the tankers can carry both fuel and cargo, they can take entire fighter squadrons across the airbridge.
The tankers will fuel the fighter aircraft while carrying extra crews, maintainers and equipment in its cargo bay. Without the tankers, many aircraft would have to go great distances out of their way to land for fuel before continuing on to their final destination. That translates into costly delays in the delivery of people, equipment and parts where they are most critically needed. Fighters, bombers and even the heavies rely on the tankers to get them there faster.
Wooley, the chief airbridge-builder, credits the success of the operation to the TACC's greatest resource - its people.
"There are more than 700 of the greatest mobility experts here," says Wooley. "There are active duty Air Force, right next to them are Air National Guard, Individual Mobilization Augmentees, Air Force Reserve, and great Air Force civilians and contractors who work here in the TACC. It's great to see that team in action every day doing wonderful things for this nation."
(FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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