TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Airmen from the 60th Aerial Port Squadron loaded approximately 155,000 pounds of water treatment systems and activation equipment onto a C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III, respectively, Dec. 16, 2021, at Travis Air Force Base, California, in support of the U.S. Transportation Command Red Hill Water movement.
Four Modular Carbon Adsorption Systems were uploaded onto the C-5M, assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron. The systems were the first of their kind to be transported via aircraft as part of an expedited, three-part movement to support the Joint Base Pearl-Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, water quality restoration efforts.
“This is the first time we’ve moved this adsorption system on a C-5 or any aircraft — the pressure was on,” said John Buchanan, 60th APS air terminal manager. “Our 463L pallets are not designed to support cargo like this… making this mission happen was a collaborative effort across four agencies.”
The 60th APS worked with Air Transportability Test Loading Activity (ATTLA) of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the 22nd AS and equipment vendors to properly equip the pallets and ensure the safe transport of the adsorption systems.
The C-5M and the C-17, assigned to 21st AS, departed the base for Hawaii Dec. 16.
To ensure mission success, the 60th APS created a wood shoring for each adsorption system to help absorb and spread the weight across the pallet which helped to distribute the weight evenly across the aircraft.
“This was a proof of concept movement that pushed our team to be innovative and think quick on our feet all while making sure we did things the right way,” said Buchanan.
With support from ATTLA, the 22nd AS and the equipment vendor, the 60th APS was able to successfully process, palletize and load the systems within a 12-hour timeframe.
Normally, with all the right tools and equipment, a movement of this scale would take 2-3 days, but the 60th APS was able to process, plan, palletize, load and secure the systems in a fraction of the time.
“Ideally, we would have weeks’ notice about the movement and 2-3 days to load the cargo — this time we didn’t,” said Buchanan. “It was a lot of logistics and coordination, but we were able to get the job done.”
The adsorption systems are designed for the removal of dissolved organic contaminants from liquids using granular activated carbon.
The U.S. Transportation Command Red Hill Water movement is part of a joint U.S. military initiative working closely with the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, U.S. government and independent organizations to restore a safe water delivery system to JBPHH military communities through testing, treatment, and repair.
