12-nation SAC celebrated the inauguration of a new parking ramp complex for its C-17 fleet

The construction of the parking ramp is the largest infrastructure development project at the Main Operating Base (MOB) founded by the SAC participating nations.

The main investment was a 22, 000 m2 concrete parking ramp for the three C-17 Globemaster cargo planes. The project also included a de-icing fluid collection and treatment facility and provisions for a future fuel hydrant system. The total costs are approximately 2.8 millions Euros.

“This is an important milestone for SAC. Although our Agency has coordinated numerous other infrastructure projects on Pápa Air Base, the construction of this facility has the greatest impact on operations of SAC C-17 aircraft.", said Gunnar Borch, the General Manager of the NATO Airlift Management Agency (NAMA).

The project was managed by NAMA, the NATO agency that acquired, manages and supports C-17 transport aircraft operated by the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW), the multinational military unit of the SAC program. The project was contracted by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) in Luxembourg.

In the official ceremony, the facility was presented by the NAMA to the HAW for use and to Host Nation Hungary to maintain. The Host Nation was represented by Colonel Ferenc Jakab, Senior Logistics Advisor of the Hungarian Joint Force Command.

“The completion of this project provides more space and better ramp lighting for aircraft taxiing, loading, servicing and maintenance activities. The de-icing fluid collection capability meets the latest environmental standards. In short, this is a big step toward the safest, most efficient operating base possible", said Colonel John Zazworsky (USAF), Commander of the HAW, as he described the upgrades.

The new parking ramp was designed by Uvaterv Ltd., and the construction was conducted by the Strabag Ltd. The design of the apron was ordered in March 2009 and the building phase was completed on 22nd January 2010.

The new parking ramp was built as an extension of the existing facilities and it includes a lighting system and pavement markings. The new de-icing fluid collection and treatment facility includes a double reinforced concrete tank, a pipeline to the ramp, and an underground pump station. The de-icing fluid handling facility is designed to meet environmental protection standards. The provisions for a future hydrant system consist of the double-walled stainless steel pipes under the parking ramp with three pits prepared for the connections to refuel airplanes.

The SAC Program was launched only three years ago in order to acquire C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to meet strategic airlift requirements of participating nations for national missions, including missions in support of NATO, the EU and the United Nations.

The first SAC C-17 Globemaster III was delivered to Pápa Air Base in July 2009, and the second C-17 arrived in September. The third SAC aircraft completed the fleet in October 2009.

The SAC participating nations include 10 NATO nations, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Romania and the United States, and two Partnership for Peace nations Finland and Sweden.

SAC Nations established two standing organizations for maintaining the SAC Program. HAW is a multinational military unit to operate the transport aircraft fleet from Pápa Air Base, Hungary. NAMA has been created to acquire and own the C-17 aircraft and other assets, manage and provide logistical support, spare parts and other sustainment activities, as well as make C-17 specific infrastructure investments at the MOB on behalf of SAC Nations.