U.S. miltary to open a NEW runway in Jacmel Haiti

[piedmont]

Edit: sorry, had this confused with something I had read about expanding the airport in Port-au-Prince.

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=57598

U.S. To Open Additional Runway in Haiti, General Says

By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2010 – As some 200 daily flights transit through the congested and sole functioning Haitian airport in the capital of Port-au-Prince, the U.S. military is looking to open a second runway in the city of Jacmel within a day.

The airfield will receive C-130 deliveries that initially will support Canadian humanitarian assistance efforts centered in the southern city about 30 miles southeast of the Haitian capital, a military official said.

“The first runway in Haiti proper will go into operation in the vicinity of Jacmel within the next 24 hours,” Army Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, the second in command of U.S. operations in Haiti, told Pentagon reporters today.

Reports of bottlenecking at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince have emerged as the hub’s capacity has grown from an average of 13 commercial aircraft arrivals daily before a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Jan. 12 to the present level of more than 200 flights.

As international support continues to flow into Haiti amid what one official has called one of the greatest humanitarian emergencies in the history of the Americas, the U.S. military has looked outside the capital for areas to receive the additional provisions, equipment and personnel.

“We are obviously very conscious of the need to have multiple ports of entry,” said Allyn, adding that the U.S. military assessed the site at Jacmel yesterday during a helicopter delivery of food and supplies to the area.

In addition to the strip in Jacmel, officials hope to improve logistics from San Isidro in the neighboring Dominican Republic to affected areas in Haiti.

Original estimates by the Red Cross were that upwards of 50,000 people were killed in the quake, with 3 million Haitians affected, but other reports elevated the estimated death count at 100,000 to 200,000.

The top priority now is to distribute supplies that are building on the ground as they continue being delivered by the Defense Department and international contributors, the general said. A C-17 Globemaster III transport jet flew from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., yesterday and airdropped nearly 15,000 meals and more than 15,000 liters of water to people in northeastern Port-au-Prince.

“This aerial delivery augments our ongoing relief efforts and continues to extend our reach to the stricken,” said Allyn, adding that the United States has delivered more than 400,000 bottles of water and 300,000 rations to the people of Haiti in the past six days.

About half of the 7,000 U.S. troops in Haiti -- 2,000 on the ground and more than 5,000 afloat off the Haitian coast -- are directly involved in delivering humanitarian assistance ashore, he said. The number of U.S. forces operating in and around Haiti is expected to rise to more than 10,000 by the end of the day, a defense official said.

[hedgehog]

1. About damn time - I was wondering what happened to the ability of the military to

lay down a runway.

I was listening to an interview on NPR this morning in which a military officer was explaining how much better the US effort would be if the military was in charge rather than the State Department. It sounded to me like some in the military are dogging it to "prove" that the civilians can't handle disasters.

[TxRider]

4. I heard they were looking to open 2-3 more airstrips.

I believe on public radio this morning.

The military is doing a decent job I think, just a question of being better set up for large amphibious operations.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. They were sending scouts to look for propper locations

silly shit like take sand samples... not kidding, to make sure they can take on the weight of a plane hitting the ground.

For Normandy Special Forces did that under the cover of night. and it is someting that you have to PHYSICALLY do, satellites only give you a probable.

And yes the military is doing something I find quite disgusting.

[perro azul]

15. Yeah, how dare they try to make sure landing planes won't sink into soft sand.

They should just land and worry about that silly stuff .. later.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. No, not that, the we can do better without civilian control

[Merchant Marine]

18. The military, specifically the US military is one of the few organizations

with the logistical muscle and specialized deployment methods to do this sort of relief op.

Did you know after the tsunamis in the south pacific the Marines pioneered a new method of supply distribution? They would load roll on roll off ships with amphibious vehicles filled with men and supplies. The ship would sail past isolated islands just outside the reef, drop the ramp while underway and let the amphibs roll into the water. They'd land and start doing aid work. The ship would continue on, dropping more amphibs at other islands before coming back for the first set.

No other group can do something like that, and the military is the best group for running its own show. They have the specialized knowledge to do this stuff.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. Elsewhere it was said that it was a preexisting runway that they had to certify

to handle cargo aircraft. From what has been posted, you won't get anything more that a C-130 or or lighter planes in and out of there.

[The Wielding Truth]

2. Hurray!!! More help for Haiti. More will live.

[KamaAina]

3. Minor quibble: They're basically building a new airport in the nearby city of Jacmel.

Which, come to think of it, could well remain useful for years as an engine of economic development after the immediate relief effort has passed.

[piedmont]

5. You're right. Thanks!

[itsrobert]

20. Yup, nice little air strip for drug traffickers

I'm sure the drug lords will appreciate it after the military leaves.

[KamaAina]

22. I was thinking more along the lines of tourism

Jacmel is a nice colonial town that has art and music festivals.

[NYC_SKP]

6. But the French and Doctors Without Borders will not be allowed to use it.

:sarcasm:

:evilgrin:

:spank:

[PacerLJ35]

11. Sure, if their airplane can get in and out of a short runway...

[jpak]

19. Stage 1 of Obama's conquest of Haiti

it's true!
it's true!

:evilgrin:

[malaise]

7. I asked about this days ago

Haiti has five airports - two international ones.
Jacmel is a small airport.

http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=HA86042

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. It is no longer private, at least not for the duration

I am betting they are going to ahem improve it... read taxy ways, if they can

[FarCenter]

8. Jacmel is on the south coast, on the other side of the quake from Port au Prince

There are a couple of highways through the mountains to get to Port au Prince. But, I'd guess they run through the middle of th quake zone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacmel

Jacmel, (Jakmèl in Kréyòl) also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a city in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est. Jacmel is a serene port town with an estimated population of 40,000 and growing, this makes it the 4th largest city in Haiti. The city has not changed much since the late 19th century when the town was inhabited by wealthy coffee merchants, who lived in gracious mansions that adorned the town. These mansions would later come to influence the home structure of much of New Orleans; the architecture of the city boasted cast iron pillars and balconies purchased in France. Today, many of these homes are now artisan shops that sell vibrant handicrafts, papier-mâché masks and carved-wood animal figures. In recent years, efforts have been made to revitalize the once flourishing cigar and coffee industries. The town is a popular tourist destination in Haiti due to its relative tranquility and distance from the political turmoil that plagues Port-au-Prince. It has sustained damage in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.


2010 Haiti Earthquake
On 12 January 2010, Haiti experienced a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that caused heavy damage and casualties to Jacmel.<3> Relief efforts had been slow because of the lack of supplies and focus on the capital Port-au-Prince.<4> The Haitian government had requested to the Canadian government that they concentrate relief efforts on the area of Jacmel. Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean's parents were born in Jacmel, which she visited frequently as a child.<5>

The Jacmel Airport suffered incapacitating damage during the earthquake and was initially unable to receive the C-130 aircraft, though it was expected to open for C-130's on January 20.<6> The small, 1 km (3,300 ft) airstrip in Jacmel is too small to process the larger C-17 aircraft that were to fly in supplies. As of January 18, 2010 the Canadian navy vessel HMCS Halifax, has been deployed at Jacmel to help in the relief efforts.<7> The crew of the Halifax will be assisting Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) which was brought to the area by helicopter on January 18 as well. The port was not large enough to handle the Halifax so supplies had to be shipped to the shore and back again. Together DART and the Halifax crew primarily concentrated on setting up a field hospital and a water purification system.

[malaise]

16. Jacmel was devastated and needs

an airport to get supplies in for any injured people.

[TexasObserver]

9. Recommend

[SidDithers]

10. Rec...

was checking up on the Canadian contingent earlier today and found the HMCS Halifax was operating in the area of Jacmel. HMCS Athabasca is on the north side of the peninsula setting up at Leogane.

Jacmel is where the Canadian DART teams will operate. They've got medical facilities and water purification equipment.

http://tinyurl.com/yg8hhr8

Edit: fixed link with tinyurl

Sid

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I am wondering, since the Comfort is going to Port Au Prince propper

if the MAR Huasteco (Hospital Ship) will be sent to work side by side your guys.