MAFFS aircraft, crews conclude firefighting operations in Southwest

A MAFFS-equipped C-130 Hercules drops fire retardant, building a fire containment line in the Sacramento Mountains in New Mexico. (U.S. Forest Service photo/Jennifer Myslivy)

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- After performing 242 sorties and dropping 609,960 gallons of fire retardant over the wildfires that have been burning in New Mexico and Arizona, Air Reserve Component personnel and their Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped aircraft concluded their mission July 13.

National Interagency Fire Center officials released the units along with the command and control element July 13, ending the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard support of Southwestern U.S. firefighting efforts that began when specially-equipped U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft began dropping retardant June 16.

Under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander for Air Forces Northern, since June, C-130s equipped with fire fighting capabilities deployed to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., as part of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group. Command and control of the aircraft was provided by the 302nd AEG from Boise, Idaho.

"This has been an extremely busy fire season so far," said Lt. Col. Dave Condit, the deputy commander of the 302nd AEG. "We have exceeded our annual average of fire missions by more than 50 percent, and we are just now entering the part of the summer when we are typically first tasked.

"The team success over the past 30 days demonstrated the professionalism and effectiveness of the citizen Airmen who volunteer for this vital mission," Condit added.

Returning to home station July 14 were personnel and two MAFFS-equipped aircraft from the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing based at Peterson AFB, Colo. Other MAFFS units that participated in the firefighting efforts were the North Carolina ANG's 145th Airlift Wing and the California's ANG's 146th AW.

MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system, which can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, drawing lines of containment that can cover an area one-quarter of a mile long by 60 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, the MAFFS system can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

With the use of new MAFFS II units, this year's fire season was the first to successfully fly fire missions using a new concept of operations that increased the effectiveness while decreasing costs.

The MAFFS units are owned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, one of several federal and state government agencies and organizations with roles and responsibilities in wildland fire suppression that make up the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The Department of Defense flew at the request of NIFC.

AFNORTH is the air component for U.S. Northern Command and when tasked, provides support to local, state, tribal, regional and federal emergency service agencies.

(Courtesy of 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs)

AFNORTH officials increase wildfire suppression support

by Tom Saunders, Air Forces Northern Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Air Forces Northern officials deployed two additional C-130 Hercules and an emergency planning liaison officer to support wildfire suppression efforts in the Southwestern United States.

Upon request from the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, the North Carolina Air National Guard 145th Airlift Wing sent two aircraft equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems aircraft to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

The Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System is a self-contained aerial firefighting system, which can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area .25 miles long by 60 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

The MAFFS is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, one of several federal and state government agencies and organizations with roles and responsibilities in wildland fire suppression that comprises NIFC. The Department of Defense is flying at the request of NIFC.

The 145th AW aircraft were scheduled to begin operations June 19 and joined the two MAFFS-equipped aircraft that arrived from the California ANG146th Airlift Wing June 15.

Firefighting suppression flights began June 16 when the 145th AW flew four flights, dropping 12,000 gallons of retardant during seven drops.

The 302nd Air Expeditionary Group, which activated June 15 and is operating from NIFC's headquarters, will provide command and control of the MAFFS aircraft. The 302nd AEG is led by the Air Force Reserve Command 302nd Airlift Wing based at Peterson AFB, Colo. The group is comprises the 302nd AW, 145th AW and 146th AW and the Wyoming Air National Guard 153rd AW.

Additionally, AFNORTH's National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate deployed Lt. Col. Scott Tagg, an AFNORTH emergency preparedness liaison officer from Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 10, to NIFC, June 16.

Colonel Tagg will advise federal, state and regional agencies on Air Force capabilities that may be used during wildfire suppression response.

Air Force EPLOs are senior Air Force Reserve officers who are subject matter experts in state and regional disaster response plans. EPLOs are geographically assigned to each state and the 10 FEMA Regional Coordination Centers. The officers come from a wide range of career fields including air operations, logistics, medical, security forces and public affairs.

The DOD, through the commander of U.S. Northern Command provides support to NIFC in conducting wildland fire fighting operations within the continental United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as approved by the Secretary of Defense.

AFNORTH is the air component for U.S. Northern Command and when tasked, provides support to local, state, tribal, regional and federal emergency service agencies.

CONR team supports successful shuttle launch

The Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center on its STS-133 mission Feb. 24, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jonathan Gibson)

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. (AFNS) -- Officials with the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, or CONR, and Air Forces Northern provided crucial airspace control and manning support to the successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery Feb. 24.

CONR representatives ensured airspace sovereignty by enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration's temporary flight restriction area established around Kennedy Space Center. Using F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., CONR controllers were able to identify and redirect four aircraft that inadvertently violated the restricted airspace prior to launch.

They also deployed the Joint-Based Expeditionary Connectivity Center team to Cape Canaveral to provide an overarching air picture to the supported entities.

AFNORTH officials provided the headquarters manning for U.S. Northern Command's Joint Task Force-Space Transportation System, responsible for the search and rescue of the astronauts and recovery of the orbiter if the need arises. They also serve as the operational level focal point for situational understanding and crisis response to space shuttle mission contingencies.

"As members of CONR, we proudly support the shuttle mission, from protecting the shuttle's immediate airspace to providing manning for potential search and rescue operations," said Col. Scott Barberides, JTF-STS commander.

The task force provides the command and control of Department of Defense forces during crisis response from the Morrell Operations Center at Cape Canaveral AFS.

AFNORTH Readies For More Tropical Weather

by Master Sgt. Brian S. Orban, 1st Air Force (AFNORTH/CONR) Public Affairs

While the remnants of Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna soaked the Gulf and East coasts this week emergency response forces, assigned to Air Forces Northern here, remain poised to react as Hurricane Ike inches its way toward the Florida Keys and possibly the Gulf of Mexico.

AFNORTH and additional military personnel, aircraft and equipment previously moved to forward staging points across the southeastern United States, remain on around-the-clock alert as they monitor the path and intensity of Ike as it makes its way east towards the continental United States.

“Having our forces prepositioned is the right thing to do,” said Col. David Kriner, 601st Air and Space Operations Center commander, as he highlighted preparations taken days before Hurricane Gustav made landfall last week. “It’s better to have a little too many people and assets prepositioned and ready to respond immediately after the storm passes versus not having enough,” he added.

A ‘home’ for military subject matter experts on air mobility, satellite operations, imagery collection and search and rescue, the 601st AOC - commonly known as “America’s AOC” - continues to review damage caused by Gustav and Hanna while keeping an eye on inbound storms. A large-screen monitor in its Current Operations Center displays live video shot by manned and unmanned observation aircraft over the affected areas to give military and civil response agencies an immediate look at areas hardest hit by the storm.
According to Colonel Kriner, lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 drove the need for beefing up the operations center. In the days before Hurricane Gustav, the center brought in roughly 60 additional subject matter experts, ready to immediately respond to significant events before and after a major storm.

“When a hurricane approaches, time is against us,” Colonel Kriner said.

Among the people moved to various staging areas for these major storms include members of AFNORTH’s Air Component Coordination Element, or ACCE. During natural disasters or other contingencies, these people serve in a command and control function to coordinate the movement of needed Air Force assets into stricken regions, support state and federal evacuation, humanitarian relief and search and rescue missions.

To brace for Tropical Storm Hanna’s sweep across the East Coast, AFNORTH moved a 12-person ACCE team to Louisiana, with other teams already in position before Gustav hit Louisiana.

“We had an ACCE deployed with Army North ‘s operational command post in Alexandria, La.,” said Col. John Colombo, director of AFNORTH air, space and information operations, as he outlined plans for Tropical Storm Hanna. “The ACCE is the [Army] command post’s immediate tie in to the capabilities that reside here at Tyndall AFB. They are able to reach back here to the staff where we help meet the requirements real time [to] provide them the best support for national, state and local responders to offer to the citizens affected by these storms.”

“What we did here during Gustav has set the stage for Hannah, Ike and the next storms down the line,” Colonel Colombo said. AFNORTH personnel opened lines of communication with their military and civilian emergency response counterparts as its people move into a familiar “battle rhythm” to maintain continuous operations over the next couple of weeks, he added.

In addition to immediate command and control support on the ground, AFNORTH deployed dozens of Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers, or EPLOs, to prepare for the next storms. These teams of Reservists respond to requests from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help local and state emergency relief agencies needing immediate military assistance.

In the case of Gustav, 40 of these senior officers used their expertise in military airlift, logistics and medical and security operations to help state and federal agencies in Louisiana evacuate more than 7,000 civilians, including about 700 critically ill patients, before it made landfall Sept. 1.

“In only 24 hours after Gustav hit ... there was no need for search and rescue,” said Col. Michael Hare, AFNORTH National Security Emergency Preparedness director, who oversees 75 EPLOs . “The reason is because we got [people] out of town. It was a total team effort. Everything that needed to happen did happen. We were ready to conduct day and night operations in nearly all weather [conditions], but thankfully it was not needed this time.”

With Hurricane Ike closing in on the United States, EPLOs and other AFNORTH elements remain on the move to position themselves to act should the storm strengthen and provide a more potent punch.

“When we put on this uniform and come to work, we bring with us the credibility and responsibility associated with the Air Force,” Colonel Hare said.

AFNORTH activates recovery center for Gustav

Chief Master Sgt. Steve Bell, the Joint Personnel Recovery Center search and rescue controller, monitors the path of Hurricane Gustav. The JPRC is specialty team of America's Air Operations Center that coordinates large-scale search and rescue operations during contigencies such as hurricanes or other natural or man-made disasters. (U.S. Air Force photo)

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla (AFPN) -- Officials with the 601st Air and Space Operations Center have activated the Joint Personnel Recovery Center in preparation for landfall of Hurricane Gustav.

Located here, JPRC personnel focus specifically on large-scale search and rescue, or SAR, operations in the event of a hurricane or natural disaster. When a disaster occurs, JPRC officials activate and coordinate the SAR actions of all rescue aircraft in the disaster area to improve the efficiency of rescue operations and reduce the potential for mishaps.

As part of AFNORTH's preparation for Hurricane Gustav, JPRC specialists identified Air Force active duty aircraft in the U.S. available to support a SAR tasking. JPRC officials also identify assets from all branches of the service, to include the U.S. Coast Guard, in order to better coordinate SAR activities.

The JPRC is one of several resources that America's Air Operations Center employs in its Defense Support of Civil Authorities role.

"The JPRC is an AOC specialty team that stands up as the need arises," said Chief Master Sgt. Steve Bell, JPRC SAR coordinator. "We have the capability to conduct large-scale SAR operations during contingencies, such as hurricanes or other natural or man-made disasters, making the JPRC a valuable asset to the DSCA mission."

AFNORTH Responds: EPLOs, Hurricane Hunters, MedEvac

EPLOs move in place to support hurricane efforts

As Hurricane Gustav nears landfall, Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers from all over the nation have been brought in to help.

EPLOs from as far away as Alaska have moved into place in Louisiana, Texas and Alabama to coordinate military assets to support civil authorities.

Lt. Col. Kelly Carmen, an Alaska-assigned EPLO, is in place in New Orleans supporting the aeromedical evacuation efforts. Along with Lt. Col. Carmen, two other EPLOs, Col. Jeff Theulen from Nebraska, and Lt. Col. Steve Flanagan from Hawaii, are deployed to the state.

In El Paso, Texas, EPLO Col. Andy Anderson is serving at the Federal Coordination Center, helping to find hospitals that have the room to shelter evacuated patients.

Col. Linc Larson is deployed to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where responders are preparing to receive outbound evacuees from the Gulf Coast, as well as inbound support from across the nation.

Several EPLOs have deployed here to help coordinate emergency preparedness activities nationwide, including possible support for Tropical Storm Hanna.

“With another storm on the rise behind Gustav, two liaison officers are at the FEMA Headquarters in Atlanta,” said Col. Michael Hare, Air Forces Northern Emergency Preparedness Agency director.

Working with officers from the Navy, Marines and Army, these EPLOs respond to civilian requests for assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

EPLOs are geographically assigned to each state and the 10 FEMA Regional Coordination Centers. The officers come from a wide range of career fields including air operations, logistics, medical, security forces, and public affairs.

AFNORTH Hurricane Hunters on the move for Gustav & Hanna

Eight Hurricane Hunters with five crews on three missions are deployed to assess the severity of conditions of Hurricane Gustav, with one Hurricane Hunter deployed to prepare for Tropical Storm Hanna.

The Hurricane Hunters are Air Force WC-130J aircraft deployed to support Gustav from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and now from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., to predict the path of Hurricane Gustav.

“Hurricane Hunters currently anticipate and determine surface conditions of the expected landfall area,” said Master Sgt. John Williams, operations duty officer at Tyndall’s 601st Air and Space Operations Center.

Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, the Joint Forces Air Component Commander at Tyndall for Air Forces Northern maintains tactical control and visibility of the Hurricane Hunters for coordination during contingencies.

“The Hurricane Hunters deploy for each major storm to measure vertical atmospheric profile of the temperature, humidity and barometric pressure and wind data ahead of the storm,” said Sergeant Williams.

According to Williams, an instrument called a Global Positioning Dropsonde Windfinding system is dropped 10,000 ahead of the hurricane to take readings and relay those readings to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., which increases the accuracy of hurricane predictions by approximately 30 percent.

“Hurricane season gainfully employs the Hurricane Hunters flying current missions over Guam, the Gulf and Atlantic and provides hurricane data to agencies that need it the most,” he said.

The National Hurricane Center feeds the information to the National Weather Service. Civilian and federal organizations use the data collected by the Hurricane Hunters to get keep the public informed with the latest information.

The Hurricane Hunters are temporarily operating out of Homestead Air Reserve Base, but they call the 53rd Fighter Wing at Keesler AFB home.

While actively supporting Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna, this month the Hurricane Hunters have also flown missions into Tropical Storm Fay, Tropical Storm Edouard and Hurricane Dolly.

AFNORTH assisting with Gustav MedEvac

Air Forces Northern here is coordinating with numerous civilian and government agencies in Texas and Louisiana to assist with the evacuation of critical-care patients in anticipation of Hurricane Gustav’s landfall.

AFNORTH is providing U.S. Northern Command with visibility on all Air Force assets available for medical evacuation such as Mobile Aero-Medical Staging Facilities, already in place at Beaumont, Texas., Lake Charles, La., and Lake Front, La.

These MASFs provide the ability to receive, process, and support patients awaiting aeromedical evacuation by Air Force aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III or C-130 Hercules.

“We are using a total force team of active, Guard and Reserve forces to assist these critically-ill citizens evacuate to safety,” said Maj. Gen Hank Morrow, AFNORTH commander. “We allow the NORTHCOM commander to effectively utilize all assets available to mitigate human suffering and prevent the loss of life.”

USNORTHCOM is working closely with local, state, and federal medical authorities to identify where the need is greatest.

The MASFs and patient evacuations will continue until the airports are closed for Gustav’s landfall.

Officials work to reduce air violations over conventions

Check NOTAMS, Fly Informed! A CONR poster depicts the intercept of a private aircraft to remind pilots of the temporary flight restrictions in effect during the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. CONR distributed the posters to fixed-base operators within 100 nautical miles of Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul to reminD pilots to "Check NOTAMS, Fly Informed!" (U.S. Air Force photo)

by Mike Strickler, 1st Air Force (AFNORTH/CONR) Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- The Continental U.S. NORAD Region is partnering with the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Aviation Administration to help reduce airspace violations near Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul during the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Public and private airports, known as fixed-base operators, within 100 miles of the convention sites will display CONR posters reminding aviators of FAA-issued temporary flight restrictions, or TFRs, in effect from Aug. 25 through Sept. 4.

CONR fighters will also be on alert during that period to enforce the special airspace if needed.

CONR, the U.S. region of NORAD's North American triad, is responsible for airspace defense over the contiguous U.S., and supports special events like the Super Bowl, Major League Baseball playoffs, and the Olympics. As the national political conventions bring large crowds and national leaders to their venues, CONR and its federal partners take special security measures to protect the airspace around them.

While civilian law enforcement agencies shoulder the primary responsibility for event security, the U.S. Secret Service is the lead agency for bringing federal support to the conventions. In that role, they work closely with the FAA to define necessary airspace restrictions, and with CONR to identify the air defense needed to patrol them.

For the 2008 conventions, CONR assets will be in place near Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul respective homes to the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

To help reduce potential TFR violations CONR launched an outreach effort aimed at general aviators. Posters depicting an intercept by military aircraft steer pilots to FAA-posted Notices to Airman, or NOTAMs, available on the FAA Web site. These NOTAMs list the latest information on restricted airspace, including projected TFRs and the times and coordinates where they are in effect.

The FAA requires pilots to check NOTAMs prior to flying anywhere in the U.S.
According to Major General Hank Morrow, CONR commander, the outreach and air defense measures will work together in providing Americans the greatest level of support during the election season.

"CONR serves as part of a layered defense that protects our national airspace every day, so these are core missions that we and our federal partners are undertaking to support our national conventions," he said. "It's a noble duty to be able to protect these events as our citizens participate in the traditional democratic processes that define us as Americans."

NORAD has conducted air patrols throughout the U.S. and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle -- the command's response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

AFNORTH deploys air coordination team to California

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- Air Forces Northern officials are deploying an air component coordination element to support firefighting operations in Southern California.

The air component coordination element, or ACCE, is an Air Force team designed to perform the command and control function for Air Force assets supporting the efforts.

When the Federal Emergency Management Agency requested Defense Department resources to help with the relief operations in Southern California, AFNORTH officials sent the eight-person element to coordinate any airlift, aeromedical evacuation, medical support, aerial assessment and civil engineering capabilities as needed.

"Like all citizens, we are saddened by the loss of life and property," said Maj. Gen. Henry C. "Hank" Morrow, the AFNORTH commander. "America's Air Force has answered the call for assistance to the California wildfire crisis. Our folks are working long hours to help Americans in need."

"Defense support to civil authorities is a total team and interagency effort," said Brig. Gen. Robert O. Tarter, the ACCE team commander. "We coordinate all Air Force capabilities for the task force, and work directly with civilian experts to support their operations. Due to the cooperation of military and civil authorities we will be able to save lives and mitigate property damage."

The ACCE is helping to provide critical Air Force assistance in areas needing it most; delivering essential supplies, conducting vital command and control of rescues and evacuation of survivors from the disaster area.