AGE supports Army deployments

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Janine Thibault
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Airmen with the 354th Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment flight assisted the Army's deployment Feb. 3 processing nearly 500 Soldiers through the Joint Mobility Complex to help fulfill the wing's mission of enabling military forces.

AGE Airmen supported the deployment effort by de-icing aircraft and by providing maintenance crews with lights, heaters, non-powered stands, and equipment to test the aircraft. AGE was not the single entity for the deployments success but one of several Eielson Air Force Base agencies involved in aiding the Army's efforts.

According to Tech. Sgt. Matthew Simpson, 354th Maintenance Squadron AGE service and maintenance section leader, Eielson's involvement makes the deployment process easier since the AGE flight is more specialized in its capability to de-ice.

Eielson is equipped with eight de-icers. One of which is capable of extended reach, which is necessary to safely treat the larger planes needed for troop deployments. The de-icing solution is also tested to verify it can withstand the temperatures the aircraft will be exposed to.

In another support role, AGE Airmen provide equipment and support to help prevent parked aircraft from freezing over and becoming inoperable.

"It takes a lot of heaters to ensure the planes take off on time," said Sergeant Matthew Simpson.

In cold temperatures heaters need to be put under struts to get the plane moving. Eight to 10 heaters are needed per aircraft. Depending on the temperature, transient aircraft do not adjust well to extreme cold weather.

"We support them with whatever they need to complete the mission. We want to make sure their needs are taken care of," said Mr. David Polly, 354th Maintenance Squadron AGE support work leader of the flightline.

When contacted for stands, the AGE Airmen brought out stands that are preconfigured to allow for ease of use for the maintainers of those aircraft.

"We make sure that their mission needs are fulfilled because without it the aircraft pretty much won't take-off at these temperatures," said Mr. Polly.

Below freezing temperatures and other Alaskan conditions require thorough planning for mission success and for the safety of the deploying soldiers. AGE Airmen continuously train for Alaska's conditions and maintains a variety of equipment to support all aircraft assigned to or passing through Eielson.