Air Mobility Plan, 2008 - The Black Vault

Global En Route Support Roadmap
Global En Route Support Roadmap
OPR: AMC/A8X
MAF Capability Statement
Provide worldwide capability to support combatant commanders’ wartime and peacetime mobility
requirements. From point of upload to point of download, use established or expeditionary en route
airfields, capable of supporting sustained mobility operations, where possible. Ensure this capability
is available anywhere on the globe, across the full range of military operations and in all operating
environments.
Roadmap Assessment
Global en route support (GERS) is a critical enabling element of rapid global mobility. It must
exist at any airfield—military, commercial, or remote locations—where mobility aircraft transit in
support of national objectives. The
capabilities of peacetime/steady state
en route locations vary from bases with
fully manned air mobility squadrons
to small, commercial air terminal
operations, or commercial airports with
cargo operations or passenger services
provided by commercial vendors.
GERS includes the ability to provide
aircraft refueling, air mobility command
and control, aerial port operations, and
aircraft maintenance.
Global en route support is anchored
from 13 strategically located en route
bases. These bases enable a full range of mobility operations as well as maintain deployable mobility
assets and personnel. They are capable of rapidly opening and operating austere, bare-base locations
to assist forward air mobility expeditionary airfields.
In support of the global en route system, the following forums were established to advocate for
projects that impact GERS:
• European En Route Infrastructure Steering Committee (EERISC); established in 1996
• Pacific En Route Infrastructure Steering Committee (PERISC); established in 1999
• Global En Route Infrastructure Steering Committee (GERISC); established in 2006
• CENTCOM En Route Infrastructure Steering Committee (CERISC); established in 2006
GERS will face the following challenges in the short term: rapidly aging AMC aircraft fleet;
insufficient maintenance manpower to support aircraft defensive systems; an inability to meet
Global Reach Laydown-deployable equipment requirements including communications, weather,
intelligence, intransit visibility, medical support, vehicles, shelters, and workspace. Obsolete
command and control systems are currently used to communicate between deployed units and aircraft.
Deploying single-function aerospace ground equipment consumes valuable airlift space.
Infrastructure projects are programmed for construction, but are deficient in military construction
recapitalization rate and real property maintenance for preservation and maintenance. Improvements
are expected in the mid-term; however, significant challenges in Europe and the Pacific areas of
responsibility will continue throughout the long term.
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OCT 07