CRW maintainers put deice training to use during RAAW

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Hicks
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

Thirteen maintainers from the 821st Contingency Response Group traveled to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where they took part in a week long deicing course, in preparation for the Army’s Rapid Alaska Airlift Week exercise Dec. 10-16.

The students trained using a simulator that resembled a video game with controls that are an exact replica of the controls in the deicing cab. Once they were comfortable, they were qualified using aircraft.

During the harsh winters of Alaska, snow and ice will accumulate on the wings of an aircraft and can severely affect its performance and the pilot’s ability to accomplish the mission. Deicing the aircraft allows it to continue to operate despite the below freezing temperatures.

“Attending the training increased our maintenance winter operations capabilities and allowed Airmen who previously had no exposure to deicing, get trained and qualified before attending RAAW,” said Master Sgt. Michael Farr, 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron.

If the aircraft is not deiced before takeoff, the snow, ice and frost could freeze the flaps' movement and disrupt the airflow providing lift.

“To properly deice the plane, the deicing fluid must be evenly distributed across the desired area so the snow or frost adhering to the wings, controls surfaces, engine inlets or other critical surfaces of the aircraft are completely gone or the aircraft cannot take off due to safety,” Farr said.

Throughout RAAW, the maintainer’s also provided ground support for the aircraft to included refueling, engine running operations, safety observations along with a number of other things to accomplish the mission.

Farr went on to say the deicing training that was conducted by the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron will also come in handy when they participate in next month’s Dragon's Breath exercise that will be held at Fairchild AFB and Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington.

Rapid Alaska Airlift Week was developed after a need for an emergency deployment readiness exercise so the Army could test their ability to rapidly respond.