Flight engineers show constantly ready, get AFRC basic safety award > 919th Special Operations Wing > Article Display screen

HURLBURT Industry, Fla. —
Pre-flight, in-flight, and submit-flight checklists are plan for each and every aviation career subject. Aircrews from the 919th Specific Functions Wing and 492nd Particular Functions Wing go through sizeable schooling just to operate the checklists and know to reply irrespective of the crisis. For one particular crew aboard a MC-130H Battle Talon II, these typical flight checklist methods intended the variation concerning a safe landing and a probably lethal end result.






















On Jan. 18, 2022, a routinely scheduled schooling flight remaining Hurlburt Field. It wasn’t until eventually later on that night time the crew found a insignificant hydraulic leak and decided to make their way residence. Senior Learn Sgt. John Gabel, 5th Particular Functions Squadron flight engineer, and Master Sgt. Frank Veres, 492nd Particular Operations Training Assist Squadron flight engineer, both equally performed essential roles in making sure the basic safety of their wingmen that evening.


The incident commenced once the Battle Talon ascended to a harmless altitude and was on monitor again to Hurlburt Subject when Gabel heard a popping sound. Times later, the cabin stuffed with smoke and the crew all donned their oxygen masks.


“Flames started off pouring out of the electrical access panel,” claimed Gabel. “Smoke cascaded onto the flight deck, and I was attempting to get my bearings when I considered to myself, you got to do a thing. The interior of the Talon was pitch black.”





















The electrical distribution panel caught on fire, and devoid of electrical power the only resource of light was the glow of the flames. Not able to go through the electrical fireplace checklist in the dim, Gabel, fortunate to have memorized the checklist, relied on his numerous many years of schooling and started to run by means of the strategies.


“I was concerned that if I did something incorrect, I could make the circumstance even worse,” mentioned Gabel. “I targeted on accomplishing the checklist. I was involved for the loadmaster and my evaluator who have been trying to struggle the fireplace, and I just experienced to rely on that they could take care of it.”





















Though Gabel was shutting down the electrical factors and preventing the spread of the hearth, Veres was in the rear of the aircraft fast paced with a hearth extinguisher.


“The all round treatment of the crew turned a enormous emphasis suitable absent,” explained Veres. “That 25-28 minutes of battling for our life felt like an eternity.”


They were being in a position to quit the spread of the hearth, but smoke within the Overcome Talon built visibility abysmal.


“We couldn’t converse with the loadmasters at the again of the aircraft, there was no visibility and no communications program,” explained Veres. “I commenced flashing my flashlight and a person of the a lot more skilled loadmasters understood it intended to open the parachute doorways, which enable the smoke out fairly speedy.”


Gabel saved battery electric power flowing to essential in-flight techniques in the course of the fire, on the other hand their navigation abilities and communication became degraded. The navigator discovered they could use 1 of their I-pads and a Wi-Fi puck to navigate their way to an crisis landing airfield 20 nautical miles away. Gabel applied the aircraft’s backup airspeed indicator and a flashlight to coordinate the landing with the pilots.





















“It’s certainly significant to fully grasp your crisis processes,” reported Gabel. “Knowing the very first actions by coronary heart intended that essential seconds weren’t squandered.”


Floor crews came and supplied critical assistance to the aircrew, who all emerged properly from the Overcome Talon.


Gabel and Veres both equally returned dwelling to their wives and young children that night. Gabel went on to acquire the Air Force Reserve Command Basic safety Award for his rapidly-imagining and coordination that evening.


“I’m honored of class,” claimed Gabel. “However, if anyone on our crew hadn’t ongoing to do their career, I never believe we would have built it.”


Training, checklists, and situational consciousness ensured they went residence to their households that working day, mentioned Veres. They are happy to be alive and grateful for the steps and preparedness of their wingmen.



