BONO, Ark. — As a part of an Air Force training exercise, the Arkansas Air National Guard's 189th Airlift Wing landed a C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft on Highway 63 in Bono on Aug. 4.
The exercise, which was called Operation Emerald Warrior, simulated providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief assistance to a remote location that experienced a natural disaster such as an earthquake.
The exercise used a three-mile stretch of the state highway, providing at least 5,000 feet for a landing strip.
"This exercise validated our proof of concept as a capability," Col. Jay Geaney, Arkansas Air National Guard director of staff and a C-130H pilot, said. "It’s been simulated effectively into execution for years in many tabletop and actual exercises."
Several agencies joined forces to conduct Operation Emerald Warrior:
- Little Rock Air Force Base’s (LRAFB) 19th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department
- LRAFB’s 34th Combat Training Squadron
- 189th Airlift Wing’s Safety Flight
- Arkansas Department of Transportation
- Arkansas State Police
- Craighead County Sheriff’s Office
- Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
"I’m proud of our team that planned, coordinated, and executed this training with all our partners in the Air Force, ARDOT, Arkansas State Police, and local law enforcement," Col. Geaney said. "We’re also appreciative of those who live in and around Bono because we certainly interrupted their normal routines on Sunday, but it was for a good cause."
Footage of the training:
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