Task Force Atlas's "Red Ball Express" is one of a few small commuter planes shuttling troops and parts across RC-East for the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. By using the plane instead of combat helicopters to shuttle parts between the brigade's five task force locations, they've reduced delivery time for critical parts from more than two days to just 17 hours. Their helicopters are therefore able to fly more combat missions, and have logged more than 60,000 hours in the air so far- 12 percent higher than the Operation Enduring Freedom historic average.