62nd APS keeps things moving at SeaTac Airport

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tim Chacon
  • 62nd Airlift Wing
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash --  The process of moving overseas involves a lot of steps for military members and their families. For those going to the Pacific theater, Airmen from the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron try to make the process as safe and worry free as possible.

Moves to bases in Japan, Guam, and Korea go through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Wash. Those flights are contracted out to commercial airlines and are monitored by contacting officer representatives from the 62nd APS. 

"We are the eyes and ears of the contracting officer and are a liaison between the government and the civilian contractor," said Senior Airman Pao Khang, 62nd APS contracting officer representative. "We insure the contract is being met in terms of quality, quantity schedule, and cost."

When a plane lands many things go into ensuring it is ready for flight, Airmen from the 62nd APS ensure the conditions inside the plane are up to par, often checking the plane seat by seat.

"When we inspect flights we ensure passenger and pet care not only meets, but also exceeds that of the standards set by commercial airline carriers," said Khang.

When the contract for flights are made many things are included. Inflight movie selection, the time allowed for baggage off load, announcements made at boarding, time before takeoff that pets are loaded and many other things are all things the APS members assigned at SeaTac Airport have to ensure the carrier is complying with.

"The hardest part of my job is knowing the contents of each contract that we manage and the military regulations associated with them," said Khang. "I must constantly keep up with the updates. I review everything and I carry electronic and physical copies of everything with me to each mission."

When Khang finds a contract is in discrepancy he notifies the contractor to fix it. Often it can be taken care of quickly and easily, sometimes it is a more involved process.

"We work irregular hours and never plan to work a set amount of hours or days," said Khang. "Bad weather, maintenance issues, pilot and crew member issues can all cause delays."

Even with constant maintenance and inspections, issues do happen.

"If the aircraft is broke for four or more hours it would be considered an overnight delay," said Khang. "We stay until the last passenger has received their billeting arrangements."

Khang and his fellow CORs are assigned to the SeaTac operating location, but their home station is Joint Base Lewis-McChord more than 30 miles to the south.

"It can be a costly and difficult commute to McChord for our support services like medical, finance, testing and everything else on base," said Khang. "However working here we do get a strong sense of camaraderie working in a small operating location.

"I like what I do because I get the opportunity to communicate and work with not only the Air Force, but all branches of the Department of Defense and civilian agencies."

The men and women of the 62nd Airlift Wing work each day to provide fast, flexible and responsive airlift capability worldwide,  the Airmen of the 62nd APS assigned to SeaTac airport are another example of that.