Component supports NATO's ISAF operation - nato awacs

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6 NATO Skywatch 4 February 2011 Text and photos CMSgt. Claus Cohnen One deployment - three aims: E-3A Mission Support, Simulator Training, Currency Experience, all to provide maximum benefit to the Component in general and the TCA crews in particular. In fall 2010 a white blanket of snow was covering the Geilenkirchen area for the second time, even before the meteorological winter started. This snowfall wasn’t unexpected. The day before their departure, the support personnel of the COMPTUEX Naval exercise in San Diego were notified that the original show time on Thursday morning at the APT (Air Passenger Terminal) in Hangar IV had been postponed for one hour. Then, due to the deicing schedule in the afternoon, it was deferred for another hour. Next change: Tail 20199 just returned from maintenance. After a positive receiving inspection the lights were “green” for a tail swap. Instead of loading 20000, whose fuel capacity is reduced by technical limitations, the cargo movers proceeded to 20199. Advantage of this: Only one “pit stop” for refueling in Winnipeg, Canada, instead of two (Goose Bay and Winnipeg). Impact: The timings had to be changed again and the flight plan had to be adjusted. After final coordination of all the operational services involved, the crew and passengers were ready to board. Team effort is important for everybody in every deployment. Especially in the small TCA squadron. “That goes without saying,” commented Deployment and Aircraft Commander Maj. Miguel Lens Prado as he lugged the flight meals into the TCA. The passengers were welcomed by the loadmaster and politely asked to take a seat in the rear of the aircraft. Due to the weight of the technical equipment in the cargo compartment and the maximum fuel load in the wings, the TCA is better balanced if other weight is as far to the rear as possible. “This supports our takeoff Deployment and Aircraft Commander Maj. Miguel Lens Prado carrying a box with the flight meals into the TCA. Combined TCA flight in support of naval exercise in and simulator training in Miami TCA timings always c and extends our security margin a little bit,” explained MSgt. Joerg Alberga. The TCA was still in its parking position. Another E-3A had priority in the flight schedule. Finally, the TCA’s engines were running. Instead of the pushback, a Sabena technician was called to the cockpit. Flight cancelled because we were now too late? No, some minutes later Mr. Guy Vercammen explained with a smile that an indicator showed “open door” although it was really closed. “It must have been the contact in the door. Perhaps there was still some snow on the contact before the door was closed”. Problem resolved, pushback, deicing, taxiing, and then clearance for a takeoff which pushed the fully loaded TCA close to its limits under these wintry conditions. Three crews were on board. Two of them were scheduled to go to the only remaining Boeing 707 simulator in Miami, operated by PANAM personnel and one crew, for pilots TCA at Miami Airport In Miami is the only remaining Boeing 707 simulator for pilots finalizing their conversion training. finalizing their conversion training. “This allows us a tighter flight schedule by also respecting crew rest requirements and enhances the availability of the TCA for additional Component missions,” emphasized Maj. Miguel Lens Prado and Maj. Robert Smit simultaneously. Touchdown in San Diego, 20 hours after initial show-time and 20 degrees warmer. The customs officers initiated their immigration procedure after confirmation of “blocked wheels”. It took quite some time until all the necessary duties were finished and transport to the accommodation commenced. At the hotel the shining eyes of the E-3A crew members, as well as the TCA Crew and the support personnel, welcomed the longawaited luggage truck. Short debriefing and co-ordination of preparations for the flight to Miami. On the Saturday one crew took care of the mission planning while the “loadies” (loadmasters) organized the flight meals and the Maj. Miguel Lens Pardo (left) and flight deck crew. Sabena technicians started fueling the TCA. Sunday morning at 0800, not 0700 as initially scheduled, depart from the hotel and head for Coronado Island naval air base. At 0945, TCA check completed, doors closed. Ready to start engines. No clearance from the Tower, because of the lack of confirmation for the flight plan. Thirty minutes and numerous radio calls later the engines were running, and little later the TCA got airborne. The pleasant aspect of this delay was the rare landing in Miami from the Atlantic side because the wind direction had changed in the meantime. This approach to one of the busiest airports in the US, with its splendid skyline, is unique. Christmas time is a time for surprises. One was already waiting for the crew in the hotel: Info from PANAM. Delay in Monday’s simulator sessions. “It’s not unusual. We are flexible and used to these changes” remarked CMSgt. Michael “Moose” Moxon, flight engineer, the British
San Diego hange voluntary national contribution. Hella Gort, an experienced MSgt. and also a flight engineer, emphasizes the team spirit within the TCA squadron. “Although they are not scheduled for this, the loadies sometimes One of the last times that SABENA technician Mr. Laurent Pacolet refuels the TCA in Miami. Fueling of the TCA at San Diego Airbase. participate in the Simulator Sessions to get a better mutual understanding of our duties.” She underlines this with an example from a worst case scenario: “Shortly after a full load takeoff all four generators were out of service. Battery capacity is only sufficient for 30 minutes maximum. If the loadmaster fails to shut down all power to the galley section, we risk additional loss of crucial energy. So we are vigilant, frequently communicating to exchange information on the current status. Ultimately everybody wants a safe landing in this – fortunately very unlikely – emergency”. While this scenario was under the supervision of the two simulator trainers, Maj. Milan Vojacek studied the documents for his final TCA certification flight across the Atlantic. Loadmaster MSgt. James O’Connor fetched the flight meals and the Sabena technicians refueled the TCA. Unfortunately the airport fuel service did not provide the promised higher pressure for faster refueling. So it took almost two times longer to get the 66 tons of kerosene into the tanks of the TCA. “Perhaps this was one of the last TCA refuelings here in Miami,” said Mr. Guy Vercammen to Mr. Laurent Pacolet and disconnected the fuel nozzle. At 0300 Maj Robert Smit briefed the last change to the crew, “Heavy snowfall could perhaps prevent touchdown in Geilenkirchen. Command Post is already checking for alternates.” Fortunately less snow fell than expected and Special Vehicles Section made an additional effort to ensure a safe landing. “We provided the requested support to the E-3A, kept up our currency and reached final TCA qualification. One team, three missions accomplished,” said Maj. Lens Prado, summarizing a very beneficial deployment. Probably one of the last op its kind, because in 2011 the TCA faces its last year at the E-3A Component. After that time the TNT company will provide the replacement service, based on the TCA principle Today Not Tomorrow. First female Company Commander for NSU By Janina Bien 4 February 2011 NATO Skywatch 7 On 21 January 2011 the position of Company Commander of the German National Support Unit (NSU) was handed over to Capt. Kathrin Schmidt in an official ceremony. This day was a special highlight for the Component, as this post is now staffed with a female captain for the first time. “I am greatly looking forward to taking over this responsible task as Company Commander”, said Capt. Schmidt. Lt. Col. Jörg Baumanns, Commander of the German NSU, released the former Company Commander Capt. Oliver Wilms, whose next assignment will be as a Logistics Staff Officer in Cologne. Photo André Joosten Construction almost complete Grand Opening of the new E-3A Portal main page By Lt.Col. Antje Kalka and MSgt. Jason Amidan Internet users hate the ‘under construction’ sign. A working URL with no content is frustrating and useless to those looking for information. By now, as everybody on the air base should know, the old WISE page will soon be history. WISE is being replaced with a new Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) Portal. Every day, the IT Wing - Web Applications Section - is conducting training and every day the information providers are uploading new pages. Under this URL - http://e3aportal.gk.e3a.nato.int/sites/e3a - you will find the main page of the new WSS Portal. This page is comparable to the entrance hall of a hotel, where you find many informational signs. In WSS these are links, slide shows and Web Parts such as the Commander’s Corner. This location provides regularly updated information as well as places to relax and enjoy your stay. However, when you want to see your room you have to leave the entrance hall and walk a bit, maybe even take the lift. If you are a hotel manager and have the challenge of renovating your entrance hall, you either can close your hotel or make step-bystep renovations. We are convinced that, although it might bring some inconvenience both for the users and for the information providers, it is better to have a functional Portal than an ‘under construction’ sign. Public Affairs Office and the Web Applications Section are working hand in hand and at high pressure to present you a completely new main page very soon. New paths offer new opportunities and new perspectives. Admittedly, some paths in WSS won’t be the same as in WISE. But all the “information rooms” can still be found. Users are already discovering the new paths. And information providers are doing their best to make the information they have to provide as attractive as possible. They see WSS as a unique chance to ‘redecorate’ their rooms by filling them with information. We hope that you will find the new Lobby of the Portal interesting and informative. Please bear with us as we make improvements.
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