http://www.itar-tass.com/asp/message2.asp?lang=en&lenta=usa-en&text_id=442882

227 US planes use Ukraine`s airspace in Afghan operation.

10/11 Tass 123

By Raisa Stetsyura KIEV, November 10 (Itar-Tass) - U.S. aircraft have continued using Ukraine`s airspace for the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry told Tass Saturday.

So far 227 military transport planes C-17 and five C-130 and KC-135 tanker aircraft have used Ukrainian airspace, primarily over the Black Sea, where transport planes were refueled. Their flights were controlled by mixed groups of the regional air traffic control departments in Simferopol, Lvov and Odessa. The groups were manned by civil and military specialists with good command of English aviation terminology.

Ukrainian fighter jets were kept alert on the ground, ready to provide assistance, if necessary. Air fields in Kulbakino and Lvov would be opened to U.S. planes in case of emergency.

str/gor

-- Swissrose (cellier3@mindspring.com), November 10, 2001