727th AMS Air Terminal Operations Center keeps the mission going

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Ethan Morgan
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  With various types of aircraft in the Air Forces inventory such as refueling and cargo, it takes a structured team to ensure that the operational mission runs on time.

When aircraft are scheduled to travel to RAF Mildenhall, 727th Air Mobility Squadron Air Terminal Operations Center gathers information about their cargo and passengers. The center then coordinates with other base agencies to ensure that all cargo and passengers arrive at to their correct destinations.

"ATOC coordinates and monitors cargo and passengers," said 2nd Lt. Angelica Canales, 727th AMS ATOC officer in charge. "This ensures personnel and equipment are ready to be on and offloaded transient, 100th Air Refueling Wing and 352nd Special Operations Group aircraft."

The ATOC acts as the central point for information relating to airlift traffic flow. At the ATOC aerial port operations are received, processed and dispatched to each functional area as well as the chain of command.

"ATOC also liaises with port sections, such as Air Freight or the passenger terminal, to provide handling equipment when needed, same with fleet servicing," said Canales. "We provide cargo tracking answers for other sections, other airfields and the chain of command."

The 727th ATOC is comprised of several functional areas which work together to coordinate the moving of people and cargo into and out of the base, such as load planning, pallet buildup, cargo courier responsibilities and hazardous cargo preparation.

"The ATOC meets all transient aircraft, including those with a passenger cargo capability, to determine any mission requirements for them and how the 727th AMS can use that aircraft," said Master Sgt. Julia Perry, 727th AMS ATOC superintendant.

On a monthly basis, the ATOC processes about 400 aircraft and 700,000 pounds of cargo.
The 727th ATOC has a team of six military and 10 Ministry of Defence civilians that ensure the success of this 24 hours a day, seven days a week mission.

"ATOC is the information hub for the 727th AMS," said David Lucas, 727th AMS ATOC senior information controller. "Without us working with the transient aircraft along with other base agencies, the aircraft would be unable to leave on time."