Heavy Airlift Wing opens €10m aerial port facility in Hungary
The 12 nation collaboration at the Heavy Airlift Wing in Hungary has opened its Combined Aerial Port Facility (CAPF), a €10 million investment jointly financed by the 12 participating nations…
June 20, 2024
The 12 nation collaboration at the Heavy Airlift Wing in Hungary has opened its Combined Aerial Port Facility (CAPF), a €10 million investment jointly financed by the 12 participating nations of the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) programme.
The new 35,000 cubic metre building (which replaces the air base’s previous temporary cargo facility) will “truly enhance [the Heavy Airlift Wing’s] capability to conduct large scale cargo management in a very controlled environment,” explained Wing Commander, Colonel Jason Mills (USAF). Alongside the building itself (with its design described by the Strategic Airlift Capability as being “heavily focused on efficiency, safety and ergonomics”), additional facilities include offices, conference rooms and a 33 metre high parachute drying tower.
Work on the CAPF began in November 2022, with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) serving as the contracting entity for the project. Although there were plans for a redeveloped cargo facility from the beginning of the Strategic Airlift Capability Programme (currently celebrating its 15th anniversary year), the more recent availability of funding is testament to the programme’s ongoing relevance.
“Economy has been a guiding star in this project, which might not be surprising,” adds the Strategic Airlift Capability, noting that “the reason why the Heavy Airlift Wing and SAC programme exists is largely due to economic aspect, so that each of the 12 nations can share three Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft instead of each nation having to acquire this costly capability on its own”.
Further updates to the Heavy Airlift Wing’s facilities include a C-17 simulator building currently under construction at the Papa base, due to be inaugurated in mid 2025. The multi-national Strategic Airlift Capability is currently halfway through its 30 year contract period.
