Not all fun and games for crew members

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katie Spencer
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  There are certain perks to being part of a flight crew. They get to travel all around the world, experience different cultures and build strong relationships with one another as well as relationships with fellow service members.

However, it is not all fun and games for those who serve the country from the sky. When the Air Force calls upon these Airmen to protect the nation, they have a responsibility to execute their mission flawlessly and use their training to be successful; especially when performing international operations.

For the men and women of the 459th Air Refueling Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Md., training for international operations was inevitable as the group traveled to Pearce, Australia to support the Royal Australian Air Force for the Defense Forces Air Show, May 19-20.

"Our goal is to have our crewmembers ready to step out the door and deploy within 72 hours," said Col. Brian Davis, 459th Operations Group commander. "These air shows provide a unique training venue where our crews can stay proficient in overseas operations by operating in unfamiliar environments."

There are numerous training opportunities when taking the KC-135 Stratotanker from one country to another.

The plane, for example, needed to be configured for overseas travel. Proper safety equipment for long, overwater flights, cargo bins and standard plane equipment was all part of getting the tanker ready for long haul across the Pacific Ocean.

"I felt this mission was great in terms new cargo scenarios you do not see on basic missions," said Staff Sgt. Dana Fernkas, a boom operator in the 459th OG. "For example, on our leg from Hawaii to Guam, we had both hazardous cargo and registered mail. Other than tech school and computer training, I have never physically had the opportunity to experience these scenarios in a real world situation. In my opinion this is the only way to truly learn a task."

After the plane is configured, the crew then had to plan for each stop on the trip. In this case, the team stopped in Hawaii and Guam before reaching their final destination in Australia. Each leg of the trip needed to be coordinated down to every detail from landing and take-off to transportation and lodging.

Once all the planning was done and the plane was set to travel, the crew then trained on the customs of each country they planned to visit.

The crew reviewed a foreign clearance guide which gave them required items for entering Guam and Australia. Each item, to include persons on board the aircraft, had to be accounted for on the customs forms.

"Using Australia as an example, we were limited on the amount of personal items we could bring," said Chief Master Sgt. Rocky Rollins, chief boom operator in the 459th OG. "This all needed to be listed on the customs forms. We could not bring in any meat, dirt, plants or seeds of any kind. If we did they would quarantine our aircraft."

In addition to the boom operators getting trained on cargo, passenger and customs procedures, the pilots and maintenance team had their own form of training.

The pilots received overseas training with controllers on how to land on a non-U.S. controlled air field. They also became familiar with the Flight Management System which is used for navigation, communications and other flying systems not typically used unless traveling overseas.

The maintenance team also had extensive training to keep the over 50-year-old tanker fully mission capable with minimal delays during the duration of the trip.

"When traveling overseas, it gets complicated if the plane breaks," said Tech. Sgt. Matt Gauvin, a crew chief in the 459th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "We would have to call out to a U.S. base for them to send parts which would put a hold on the mission. Knowing this is a possibility, we work extra hard and utilize every bit of training to ensure the plane is good to go."

While being part of a flight crew has its benefits, these men and women work hard on the ground and in the air to get the best training possible for a successful mission.