Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation plans, coordinates and controls the flow of mission personnel, equipment and supplies to and from Alaska, including personnel housing, rocket vehicle receiving, and storage and distribution at the KLC range. Key means of transport include: land, marine and air. Considerations include equipment environmental control and monitoring (acceleration, temperature, humidity), and allowable loads.
Experience and Resources
AADC’s experience includes, shipping, receiving, and storage of aerospace ordnance, rocket motor and associated inert hardware, and tracking and telemetry systems using a diverse assortment of AADC owned and operated ground support equipment. AADC uses a combination of hands-on transportation management plus logistical support from leaders in the industry with experience in Alaska and the rest of the continental US. Marine barges, landing craft, ferry systems, aircraft and helicopters are among methods used. The logistics department manages and administers logistical services that include:
- Transportation and freight forwarding.
- Insurance and insurance related surveys.
- Consolidation of shipments.
- Warehousing (storage): inert, ordnance, and hazardous material .
- Packing ,crating, and shrink wrapping.
- Hazardous materials compliance.
- Information management.
- Supplier and contractor management.
- Inventory management.
- Technical assistance, including coordination of (DOT & PF), regulatory permits, government bill of lading.
- Lodging and catering, Narrow Cape Lodge.
Vital Equipment
Kodiak Launch Complex equipment is built for Alaska conditions to support year round operation. The KLC has available custom built all-wheel-drive semi-tractors and trailers, flat bed trucks and all-terrain extend-a-boom forklifts. Lifting capabilities include a 23-ton boom truck, capable of lifts up to 150 ft. KLC forklifts include 55K, 15K, 10K and 5K models. The Ottawa yard tractor with elevating 5th wheel and hydraulic front pintle hitch facilitates accurate positioning of ground support equipment. KLC has established support relations with several Kodiak Island agencies such as USCG, State of Alaska Department of Transportation (DOT & PF) and Public Facilities, and local law enforcement. These agencies provide services in the areas of helicopter support, road maintenance and safety. With the DOT & PF, KLC uses an assortment of road maintenance equipment including two road graders, a sander, and plow trucks.
Customized Planning and Forward Thinking
The logistics department develops and plans support with a safety first analysis and coordinates these efforts with local emergency response and planning departments. Whether a deployment of equipment arrives by sea at the Lash Dock or by air at the Kodiak Island airport, material can be safely deployed and processed into the KLC environmentally secure areas within 8 hrs. At KLC, on-site materials handling and lifting equipment, described above, is available for processing needs, operated either by KLC personnel, or qualified user personnel. Equipment is properly certified to appropriate safety and regulatory standards.
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Photo courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories.
