Patriot Express to offer more seats

  • Published
  • By Wanda M. Antoine
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs stringer
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Beginning this month service members and their families on Okinawa who use the Patriot Express will have a better chance of catching a flight back to the United States or to mainland Japan. 

Due to a new contract, the L-10-11 model aircraft currently used is being replaced with a DC-10 that will seat more passengers. Master Sgt. Laurie Rogers, 733rd Air Mobility Squadron passenger operations superintendent, said the change will be welcome news for travelers. 

"The contract was expiring, but we (Air Mobility Command) had requested a bigger aircraft to accommodate (passengers)," she said. "On the current airplane, there are very limited and very small overhead compartments for hand-carried items. We hope the DC-10 alleviates this." 

Sergeant Rogers said the amount of seats will increase from 280 to about 320 allowing Traffic Management Offices better flexibility of booking, especially during peak periods.
Besides allowing for a better opportunity for seats on a commercial plane versus a military aircraft for space-required and space-available travelers, Sergeant Rogers said that there is really no advantage in changing the aircraft for AMC. The benefit goes to the travelers. 

"The DC-10 increases our workload due to an increase in bookable seats, but will not affect our normal operations for this type of mission," she said.
Sergeant Rogers said that about 85 percent of Space-A travelers use the Patriot Express. If a service member and his or her family want to get on a flight, she has some recommendations. 

"The key to competing for a seat is, as soon as your leave starts, sign up - regardless if you plan to travel that weekend or the next weekend," she said. "Use environmental morale leave (if authorized) and travel during non-peak periods."
The Patriot Express arrives at Kadena Air Base on Fridays and departs Saturdays. For more information, call the AMC information counter at 634-2159 or 634-0153.