Waiting for the go

October 05, 2006

Maj. Ryan Guiberson, director of operations at the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron asked me today if we were leaving early.

That's not a good sign, is it?

See, we're still not flying.

I know, I know. The whole reason we came over here was to fly with Little Rock Air Force Base C-130 crews.

We sit at the squadron every day, waiting for a general at the Combined Air Operations Center to call with his stamp of approval. Up until now we've spent every day in various Air Force offices pleading our case.

Why are we having to do that? The Public Affairs Office at Balad did not complete our paperwork.

They forgot. They're sorry.

So, we're waiting on a general to give his blessing. It's been a week.

The 463rd folks here feel bad. It's not their fault. They did everything they were supposed to and more to support us coming over here.

I just don't have much fight left, I'm afraid. In my eight years as a reporter, I've never been hog-tied like this.

Our world has two spheres. One is the living area of H6, the other is squadron headquarters. The squadron operation area is a row of trailers. There's an operations center, offices, supply, crew rest area, everything they need to run a squadron right there on the edge of the flightline.

Crews come in and out of here constantly.

I spent my day in the gazebo area, a covered porch with wooden benches in the middle of it all. I feel a little like a mascot, the hound dog that's always laying on the porch and greeting all who wander by.

The crews walk by, wave and smile. It's always the same question.

"You flying today?"

"Nope."

"Awww."

They shake their heads and usually tell us what day they're flying again so maybe we can get on their crew when the approval comes through.

Always hopeful.

Posted by editor at October 5, 2006 02:18 PM