CONFIDENTIAL
FACILITIES
11. The facilities which should be considered when planning a large scale movement through Ascension are as follows:
a. Runway. The runway is 10,000 feet long x 150 feet wide and aircraft normally take-off and land using runway 14. A fast exit turn-off is on the north side of the runway at approx the 6,000 feet marker to enable large aircraft to back track the runway and for fast jet parking in extremis.
b. Parking Apron. The parking apron is strong enough to support the C5 Galaxy. The total area of 200,000m2 includes 7 hydrant refuelling points and one defuelling point with a blast fence situated around the southern perimeter. The area is illuminated at night by flood-lighting towers and access can be gained from either end of the apron.
C.
Aircraft Parking Space. The main concrete parking ramp has space for up to six 8747s and thirty VC10s or equivalents. Up to 12 fast jet aircraft may also be parked on the fast exit turn-off. Limitations on parking and the use of the hydrant points will be imposed during wide-bodied movements and, at maximum capacity, additional bowsers, aircraft tugs and appropriate towing arms would enable more efficient use to be made of the available space.
d.
Transport Aircraft Daily Handling Capacity. The planning capacity for handling air transport aircraft (including wide-bodied aircraft) is 24 sorties per day (ie 48 air traffic movements).
e. Helicopter Transhipment. There are no resident SH (RN) helicopters. Shore-to-ship heli-lift, if required, must be provided by visiting ships or reinforcement helicopters.
f.
Air Traffic Control. Air Traffic Control facilities are provided by Pan Am and intensive operations would require augmentation of the resident Air Traffic Controllers. Personnel would be deployed by the US authorities at 4 to 5 days notice.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
12. Accommodation, transport and other support facilities on the Island are limited.
13.
a. Accommodation at RAF ASI. In an emergency 400 beds could be provided at Travellers Hill to accommodate crews, reinforcement personnel and transit passengers; this figure assumes that one Tristar crew and one Hercules crew are already in residence. In addition a further 200 personnel could be accommodated on safari beds under hard lying conditions. The RAF Movements Hangar at the Airhead could provide shelter, but inadequate long-term toilet facilities, for about 300 persons; the aircraft hangar could shelter a further 250 persons. For short periods, catering arrangements for up to 500 transitees could be made before re-supply of rations and reinforcement of catering personnel would become necessary.
E2-E2-3 CONFIDENTIAL
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