Space A on the Patriot Express

By AFNS on April 2, 2010

As Osan's 731st Air Mobility Squadron begins to prepare for the re-establishment of the Patriot Express making its way through Korea, details are becoming available on the projected days and times of routes to connect passengers with Japan and the United States. 

There will be two Patriot Express missions here, and while there are projected times and dates, all Air Mobility Command missions are subject to change without any prior notification. The estimated date of the first departure mission is April 7. 

The first route is scheduled to arrive here from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Misawa Air Base, Japan on Mondays at 12:20 p.m. It will leave the next day, Tuesday, with a 6 a.m. Space-A roll call time, bound for Misawa AB and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. 

The second route is scheduled to arrive here from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Yokota Air Base, Japan on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. It will leave the same day for Kunsan Air Base, with a Space-A roll call time of 10 a.m. (prior to the aircraft arrival). The aircraft will then come back through Osan via Kunsan at 10:50 a.m. Thursday, with Space-A roll call time for departure to Yokota/Seattle-Tacoma of 9 a.m. Thursday. 

"Once the Patriot Express is back in service, the flight times will be as steadfast as any AMC flight can be," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Wooley, 731st AMS and Osan Passenger Terminal representative. "However, these times may still go through several changes before the first Patriot Express aircraft arrives here in April, so if your booked against one of these missions or planning on flying them as a Space-A, make sure to refer to your booking agent for show times or call the Osan Passenger terminal for an update 72 hours prior."

The new Osan Joint Reception Center will be the hub for all passengers traveling AMC after it is completed in late summer 2010, but for now, the 731st AMS asks for patience with the facilities at the current passenger terminal, which was designed to handle primarily mission-related flights with limited Space-A capability. 

"The terminal, in its capacity to move large amounts of passengers, is limited since we are a small location" Sergeant Wooley said. "It provides the necessities for business and that's about it. We are doing our very best to ensure as many amenities are available as you might find in a large terminal, but in some cases these will be limited, if available at all."

Sergeant Wooley added that the 731st AMS is working with AAFES to bring an additional food option to the passenger terminal, but that parking, telephones and internet access will be limited, with the nearest ATM at the Base Exchange.