RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Several Randolph organizations who have a hand in flight operations hosted a first-ever training opportunity for fire departments from counties surrounding the base Jan. 31.
Five local county fire departments joined personnel from the 12th Operational Support Squadron, 12th Maintenance Division and the Randolph Fire Emergency Services for familiarization training on 12th Flying Training Wing aircraft disaster response and recovery of aircrew.
According to Maj. Jarod Hughes, 12th OSS current operations flight commander, the training was intended to provide emergency responders outside the gate the situational awareness tools to help aircrews of 12th FTW aircraft if they crash off base.
"With recent events such as the downed F-18 in a San Diego neighborhood, training for the local fire departments just makes sense," Major Hughes said. "We fly around 100 sorties a day and we are helping our aircrews by educating the local fire departments to provide the best response they can."
Training started in the classroom with Reynaldo Gutierrez, 12th OSS aircrew flight equipment trainer, demonstrating what equipment the pilots wear and what buckles and straps would need to be undone in order to remove a pilot from a downed aircraft.
Mr. Gutierrez also pointed out different hazards in the aircraft, such as ejection seat systems and locations of flares and oxygen tanks.
"This type of training will save pilot's lives," he said. "The more we can tell them about how to get our guys out and what areas to avoid, the better chance our pilots have if they go down."
After seeing the equipment worn by pilots, the group went to the flight line to get hands-on training of the aircraft.
Mike LoBue, 12th MX egress shop foreman, was on-hand to explain a bit about the ejection seats and what the responders should look for and avoid when removing a pilot from the cockpit.
Mr. LoBue also demonstrated how to open the canopies of the T-6 and T-38.
"I showed them where the ejection seat safety pins are so they can make the seat safe once in the cockpit," he said. "Basically, I showed them how to get in and get the pilot out safely."
Once each member of the group had a chance to see firsthand the things discussed in the classroom, they traveled to the South side of the base for a live-fire demonstration with the Randolph Fire Emergency Services.
Randolph firemen demonstrated how to approach a burning aircraft and extinguish the fire.
"We train with off-base departments individually, but this is the first time we have gotten them all out together for such in-depth training," said Joe Martinez, RFES assistant chief of training. "This is going to help keep them safe, as well as our pilots."
The live-fire demonstration was important for the civilian responders, who are trained for structural fires, not aircraft fires. According to Robert Martin, Universal City Fire Department shift captain, the training gave them a little more confidence in their ability to help out their neighbors at Randolph.
"We see base aircraft fly over our city all the time, the chances of us getting to an accident before the Randolph fire department are great," he said. "This will help protect us when we respond and give us the tools to provide better response for your pilots."
Training didn't stop for the local departments when they left, each received a binder with all the training material and quick reference sheets with information on aircrew equipment. The Randolph organizations involved also hope to host the departments again for more training in the future.