Photo By Joshua Cox | Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Robert Allen, NAS Pensacola’s...... read more read more
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Naval aviators have a robust support mechanism in the event of an emergency landing onboard NAS Pensacola. If an aircraft’s landing gear malfunctions during flight, highly-trained Sailors with the Arresting Gear Division have the pilots covered.
The arresting gear is permanently positioned on runways to deaccelerate aircraft in an emergency landing. Pilots use the aircraft’s tailhook to catch a long wire stretched across the runway. The wire is connected to an arresting engine that assists in slowing the aircraft down. The multiple arresting gear systems onboard NAS Pensacola are operated and maintained by Sailors, who also assist on the scene in the event of an emergency landing.
“In the event of a nose gear failure, we will get a five to ten minute notice because the pilot is always in constant communication with the tower,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Robert Allen, the Arresting Gear Division’s leading petty officer.
Before the emergency landing, the team will gather personnel and equipment to respond to the call and will make way to the airfield to man the arresting gear.
“Once the landing happens and the pilots catch the arresting gear, that’s when we come in and detach (the arresting gear) from the aircraft with the help from the fire department and the squadron,” Allen said. “Then we will make sure our equipment is still safe and nothing’s broken, and we will bring the equipment back into a ready position.”
The Arresting Gear Division, which falls under NAS Pensacola Air Operations, and arresting gear systems are evaluated annually by officials with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s (NAWCAD) Carrier and Field Service Unit (CAFSU) to ensure the personnel and equipment are operating safely and effectively.
“Every year the evaluators have to come out and make sure that our equipment is up to standards to actually conduct an emergency landing,” Allen said. “They make sure the equipment has the proper braking strength to catch an aircraft. We have a variety of standards we need to meet or exceed.”
Allen said the evaluators ensure the Sailors are also up-to-date on required training and are properly maintaining the arresting gear.
During a recent annual evaluation, the Sailors received exceptional results and exceeded expectations.
“The outcome of the certification was above and beyond what we have done in the past few years,” Allen said. “I am very proud of my team – we have come a very long way.”
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.25.2020 16:55 |
| Story ID: | 363889 |
| Location: | NAS PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 424 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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