Photo By Maria Galvez | Airmen assigned to the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron assist in de-icing operations on a...... read more read more
Subscribe
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Everyone knows that Alaska sees snow for most of the year. Everyone also knows that JBER is home to a multitude of aircraft. Ultimately, snow and aircraft don’t mix and the snow can put a dent in flying operations, which simply is not an option for one of the busiest military bases in the Pacific theater.
Located at JBER is the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron. A tenant unit whose mission is to provide forward-deployed command and control, aerial port and aircraft maintenance support to the Department of Defense and contracted aircraft, and execute airlift and air refueling missions throughout the Pacific.
Aircraft deicing is an integral part of mission readiness during inclement weather. Once the aircraft is deiced, the aircrew will perform a pre-flight check and deem it 'airworthy' before take-off. Their arctic mobility expertise makes the 732nd AMS ‘Huskies’ the perfect addition as a tenant unit to JBER.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Francis Buonanno, a flight line expediter with the 732nd AMS, gave us an inside look at what happens on the ramp when aircraft travel through JBER.
“Aircraft come through this location as a gateway to the Pacific,” said Buonanno. “And when those aircraft are coming from [other bases], we need to [ensure] they’re getting fueled and are still in good condition by the time they leave.”
Aerial Port and Maintenance support Air Mobility Command and is one of the primary missions for the Huskies. As a tenant unit here they are pivotal in providing and maintaining this level of support for the Pacific Air Forces area of responsibility.
“We’re a hub for missions to go through transitions,” Buonanno said. “Whether they need to come to pick up or drop off cargo, ultimately, all aircraft are going to go somewhere in PACAF, and it’s our job to make sure those aircraft continue their missions.”
The 732nd AMS works in very strict time windows to not slow down flying operations. Aircraft funnel through constantly and being proficient at deicing is imperative in the arctic climate of Alaska.
“The reason that the deicing mission is so important is because there are always people that need something, somewhere and we need to get it there,” Buonanno said.
One of the 673d ABW’s priorities is partnerships and powering the joint base, and the 732nd AMS is often faced with a lack of equipment and tools to maintain all aircraft and air frames. This is when they turn to the 673d ABW and 3rd Wing for assistance.
“They tend to provide us with personnel weekly to help deice [the aircrafts],” said Buonanno. “We have a great working relationship with the home station as far as maintenance support and supply support for our mission - to keep all of these aircraft flowing. It’s awesome.”
| Date Taken: | 01.11.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 01.26.2023 14:53 |
| Story ID: | 436626 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 305 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, 732nd AMS - small unit, big mission, by Maria Galvez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
