Los Angeles Hub - Special Military Charter

Updated August 13, 2002

Special Military Charter - The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has chartered Noble Air to fly personnel and equipment to Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T. (British Indian Ocean Territory) an Island in the Indian Ocean.  This Military Charter flight is a planning challenge.  The takeoff times of 0400 for the flight and return flight are about the only information provided for this Charter.  You may make 4 refueling stops on your flight to Diego Garcia and 4 or more refueling stops on the return flight. You may use any route you want.  If you chose the route over the top, (via Alaska)  it should take about 32 hours flight time.  The DOD requires that the route be normal High Altitude flight routes (No GPS direct).  We are not sure what equipment we are flying, but a small detachment of US Marines did all the loading and will be flying with us to Diego Garcia. One of the personnel we are taking to the Island is a British Naval Officer.  With a range of 2,835 miles, the HC-130-H will need about 4 fuel stops to make this flight. With no sensitive cargo, the return flight may be flown GPS Direct, and any number of fuel stops is allowed.  

Photos of  Diego Garcia

Diego Garcia is an island in the Indian Ocean.  It is part of the Chagos Archipelago, an island group.  The United States maintains a naval base on Diego Garcia that serves as a communications center and a refueling stop for ships and air planes. 

Diego Garcia is a U-shaped coral island called an atoll.  It is about 25 kilometers long, and about 10 kilometers wide at its widest point. 

Diego Garcia came under the United Kingdom's control in 1814, and until 1965 was administered as a dependency of the colony of Mauritius.  In 1965, Diego Garcia became part of a newly formed dependency called the British Indian Ocean Territory. 

In 1966, the United Kingdom agreed to allow the construction of the U.S. naval base on Diego Garcia.  The base was built during the 1970's.  By 1972, UK authorities had moved all of the island's inhabitants to Mauritius.  Today, about 1,300 American naval workers and 25 UK naval representatives live on Diego Garcia.  Since 1982, Mauritius has claimed the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia.