ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE TINDAL, Australia -- ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE TINDAL, Australia – Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 took full advantage of the optimal training environment and facilities available for assault landing zone operations here, July 28.
“Our primary mission [during Exercise Southern Frontier] is supporting MAG 12 with fixed wing aerial refueling,” said Maj. Frank P. Kolbe, VMGR-152 aircraft manner and flight instructor. “What we get to do as an added bonus for us, is come down here to do one or two fixed wing air missions a day for them and then with the rest of the time we conduct our own squadron training.”
During the training, Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 travel to the landing site to place panels used for guiding the pilots into the makeshift runway, and observed the aircraft during touch and go fly-bys to spot where on the runway the aircraft was touching down, and then radioed the information back to the pilots so they could better adjust their landing. This information was especially useful during the exercise, since both pilots conducting the ALZ operations had never landed on a dirt runway before.
“On a normal operating airfield, the runway is above around 8,000 feet long and 200 feet wide, the runway we were landing on was about 3,700 feet long and 80 feet wide,” said Kolbe. “This training is very valuable, aside from the practice on a much smaller dirt runway it also allowed one of the pilots to gain more experience in his seating.”
As if landing on a miniature dirt version of the runway pilots are used to isn’t hectic enough, Capt. Christopher M. Davin, VMGR-152 KC-130 co-pilot, conducted his first ALZ operation while seated on the left side of the plane, something also new to him.
“At first the fly-bys were somewhat intimidating, with such a small field it seems like it’s coming a lot faster, but after a few turns it got easier and easier,” said Davin. “This training was a great experience for me, a lot of flying is all about seeing the picture, with me being new to the left seat I was able to familiarize myself with the picture during this training.”
With the increased need for expeditionary operations, VMGR-152 values the ALZ training they’re receiving in Australia.
“It’s not very often that we get this type of training in Okinawa, there is an airfield for ALZ out there, but it’s been closed lately and it’s not as nice as this one, out here there’s a really nice airfield and the weather is awesome,” said Kolbe.
Taking full advantage of the available airfield and ideal weather for their training, VMGR-152 look to leave from Exercise Southern Frontier with valuable experience.
“This training was extremely valuable,” said Davin. “It makes us that much more prepared for what we need to do, the more training we get the more confidence we have, and the more confidence we have the more we make the squadron mission capable.”