10.000 flights during the 2010 exercise

Badghis, Afghanistan (December 27) –Yesterday the Qal-eh-ye now airfield registered its flight number 10.000 since the beginning of the 2010.

The Spanish Combat Control Unit is engaged with the management of the airfield since 2005. The airfield, which can receive either helicopter or aircraft traffic, has constantly incremented the volume of flights since its runway was asphalted in 2007 with funds of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

The Qal-ey-ye now airfield has the particularity of sharing its runway with the local traffic. Everyday hundreds of motorcycles, cars, animals of personnel cross the runway which divides the vicinity of Qal-eh-ye now. The task performed by the Protection and Security unit it is essential in order to avoid accidents or security violations.

In a province which is surrounded by deep and narrow gorges, the airfield constitutes the main communication and resupply asset for ISAF operations.