Date of Award

3-2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

Robert Brigantic, PhD

Abstract

The Global War on Terrorism has mandated the need for additional global en route airfields. En route airfields consist of bases that are strategically located at intermediate locations between the Continental United States and the intended theater of operations. These airfields serve as refueling, crew staging, or maintenance stops for strategic airlift aircraft flying transoceanic routes. The focus of this study is to examine concepts to meet this need and to address important aspects that should be considered in devising new en route strategies. Based on various important factors associated with potential en route airfields, a goal programming methodology was used to develop an Excel based tool to aid the decision process for selecting the best future en route airfields and potential infrastructure improvements at those airfields. The factors included in this tool consist of 1)the distance from various origins to the en route of interest and the distance from the en route to various destinations, 2) the amount of parking capacity available at potential en route airfields, 3) the fuel capability present at these airfields to support strategic aircraft flow, 4) diplomatic relations with the en route host countries, 5) airfield distance from coastal seaports, and 6) the number of strategic aircraft capable airfields within a predetermined range of the potential en route. Using the developed goal program tool, 25 potential en route airfields used to transit to eight global destinations from ten different origins were studied. With the above factors assessed and examined, conclusions relating to which potential en route airfields would be the most beneficial in fighting the Global War on Terrorism are delineated.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GOR-ENS-05-17

DTIC Accession Number

ADA435150

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