Grissom ready for aircraft emergency

Published Sept. 9, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Carl Berry
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Airmen throughout the Air Force are constantly training for real-world situations; however, some of the skills acquired from the training will hopefully never be needed.

The 434th Maintenance Squadron's crash, damaged or disabled aircraft recovery section specializes in tasks necessary to recover a crashed or disabled aircraft, something they hope they never have to do.

"In order to recover an aircraft, special equipment is required, such as lifting bags, air distribution manifolds, slings and cables," said Master Sgt. Jason Drewitz, 434 MXS KC-135 crew chief and team chief for the CDDAR section. "Some of the additional equipment required includes air compressors, shackles for connecting cables and equipment used to support lifting bags and other gear for moving aircraft from uneven surfaces."

At a minimum, 22 Airmen are needed to perform aircraft recovery tasks. To ensure recovery is done correctly and effectively, team chiefs must go through intense scenario training every two years.

"Team chiefs attend the seven day CDDAR training held at Shepherd Air Force Base, Texas," said Drewitz. "The course details techniques to recover an aircraft using a dedicated sling lift, an air bag lift and a belly band lift, which essentially lifts the nose of the plane."

After successfully completing the course team chiefs are then required to train the Airmen at their home bases, however the training is more simulated because they cannot train on an actual aircraft.

"Our Airmen must go through an annual training with the equipment so they are qualified to perform various tasks such as towing an aircraft with blown tire or performing a sling-lift to raise an aircraft off the ground in the event the landing gear collapse upon landing," said Drewitz. "All tasks are trained in a manner to prevent secondary damage to an aircraft."

Grissom is not just responsible for the KC-135R Stratotankers on base; they are also responsible for any military aircraft accident within a 250 mile radius of the base.

"We are not the first to arrive on scene, actually we don't arrive until the accident investigation is complete," added Drewitz. "To date we have not had to respond to any accident, which is a good thing, but we are prepared if one does occur."

The 434th MXS is part of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command.

434th ARW Airmen and aircraft routinely deploy from Grissom around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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Grissom ready for aircraft emergency

Public Affairs Staff