LRS boosts cargo movement capability

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  A newly acquired Weigh-In-Motion system, capable of processing cargo shipments twice as fast, was put to the test at Misawa Air Base for the 2015 Cope North deployment, Feb. 2.

This multilateral operational training exercise allows Misawa's F-16 Fighting Falcons to conduct a variety of operations alongside joint and allied forces that include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, air combat tactics and air-to-ground strike missions. Taking place at Andersen AFB, Guam, it involved approximately 400 Misawa Airmen and large quantities of equipment and assets to enable the mission down-range.

To streamline the mobilization process, the 35th LRS cargo movement team utilized the WIM system as part of the cargo deployment function to weigh approximately 25,000 pounds of the cargo transported for Cope North.

During deployment operations, the Cargo Deployment Function ensures pallets of cargo are measured, weighed, labeled and organized for load transport.

"We estimate the new Weigh-In-Motion system has the ability to move equipment through the cargo process line twice as fast by allowing the weight of both platform vehicle and cargo to be measured simultaneously without need of the equipment to be stationary," explained Senior Airman Eric Raber, 35 LRS cargo movement specialist.

Given its portability, cargo processing personnel can set up the system where ever it is needed, which allows for greater operational flexibility. The system itself can even be packaged and deployed as well.

As part of the initialization process, the CDF is putting the new system through a system of trials, which includes comparing the difference the weighing systems to ensure accuracy. Ultimately, the WIM system will be used to process equipment for all kinds of deployments, but for now, the plan is to start using the WIM system with any real-world deployment or temporary duty missions, since those are slower paced and are scheduled.

As the team gets more proficient at using the system, including on-the-spot troubleshooting, they will begin to use it during exercises, which are faster paced.

"During exercises, we are moving at a faster pace, so once we explore the full capabilities of the system we plan to utilize it to increase cargo velocity" said Raber.

Once the entire team is comfortable with utilizing this new equipment, the WIM system will be the primary tool for weighing cargo, leaving the current process - floor scales - to be utilized only 10 percent of the time for quality control purposes.

Older floor scales require cargo to be stationary on the scale and the center of balance to be calculated manually using measuring tapes. Equipment had to be manually removed from its transport and, once weighed and measured, hauled away once more. This created a backlog of cargo waiting to be measured before loading onto waiting C-130s or C-17s to be transported down-range.

The WIM system platform and computer system will calculate the weight of the cargo, differentiating it from the weight of pre-loaded vehicles, once selected. The WIM system then determines the axle weights and center of balance automatically allowing for faster processing times. 

"Everything is done on the computer, so it is more accurate and there's less room for human error," added Raber.

Since most of the measurements are determined by the computer, the new system doesn't require as many man hours per increment and helps streamline the cargo deployment function.

"This system is more time efficient" said Senior Airman Jarek Pankowski, 35 LRS cargo movement specialist. "It allows our team to streamline the process while expediting the movement of cargo."

Pankowski said the computer also prints out a receipt of information, which is later input into the Cargo Movement Operating System used by air transportation personnel to track cargo and ensure pallets on a plane are evenly spaced for center of balance and safety. Ensuring correct cargo weights are documented is essential to preventing aircraft accidents.

Raber explained his team has been in communication with the manufacturers of the company to create software allowing for automatic transfer of information from the WIM system to CMOS to further streamline the mobilization process.

As new processes are implemented throughout the 35 LRS cargo movement section, it will all ultimately enable Misawa's 35 FW to expedite cargo down range in support of deployments and operational requirements.