thedrifter
02-27-09, 08:34 AM
Yuma squadron completes carrier qualifications
Comments | Recommend
February 26, 2009 - 10:58 PM
BY LANCE CPL. GREGORY AALTO, SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Yuma-based Marine Attack Squadron 513 recently completed aircraft carrier qualifications in preparation for dual deployments with the 11th and 31st Marine Expeditionary Units in late summer.
The training prepares pilots to fly in the same conditions they will during the unit's shipboard deployments and is important for VMA-513's mission readiness.
"Getting our carrier qualifications out of the way early has us ahead for our shipboard deployment requirements," said Lt. Col. James Hurd, VMA-513 executive officer.
The squadron qualified aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, which it will be sailing on as part of the 11th MEU. The 31st MEU detachment will serve aboard the USS Essex in Japan.
When not deployed, Marines in Yuma train at Auxiliary Airfield 2, located southeast of the air station on the Barry M. Goldwater Range, as their primary carrier trainer. However, a ship provides pilots realistic conditions at sea.
"The winds are different, and the ship is actually moving. You can't replicate that at Aux-2," said Hurd.
While weather is one major difference for pilots, it is not the only change.
"The biggest difference for me was getting used to how busy the flight deck is. There are a lot of people on deck and everything is moving. It's a different environment," said Capt. Philipp Buckhahn, VMA-513 operations schedule writer, who received his first carrier qualification during the training.
Another benefit to being on ship is the experience the deck crew receives.
"For some of the plane captains, it's their first time directing on a ship," said Hurd.
Another important part of the predeployment preparation is maintaining the AV-8B Harrier fleet. Even while in garrison, the unit's maintainers put in tremendous hours.
"In order for the mission to be accomplished, those young bucks out there are working 12, 16 hours a day, making all these things happen," said Sgt. Maj. Russell Brown, VMA-513 sergeant major.
The unit will begin deployment workups in March and will deploy later this year.
The unit will be split in half with deployments to Southeast Asia and to the Middle East, said Hurd.
For about half of VMA-513 pilots, this will be their first deployment, said Hurd.
The Nightmares returned from the 31st MEU in July 2008 after a seven-month deployment to Southeast Asia.
---
Reprinted from The Desert Warrior, the newspaper of the Marine Corps Air Station.
Ellie
Comments | Recommend
February 26, 2009 - 10:58 PM
BY LANCE CPL. GREGORY AALTO, SPECIAL TO THE SUN
Yuma-based Marine Attack Squadron 513 recently completed aircraft carrier qualifications in preparation for dual deployments with the 11th and 31st Marine Expeditionary Units in late summer.
The training prepares pilots to fly in the same conditions they will during the unit's shipboard deployments and is important for VMA-513's mission readiness.
"Getting our carrier qualifications out of the way early has us ahead for our shipboard deployment requirements," said Lt. Col. James Hurd, VMA-513 executive officer.
The squadron qualified aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, which it will be sailing on as part of the 11th MEU. The 31st MEU detachment will serve aboard the USS Essex in Japan.
When not deployed, Marines in Yuma train at Auxiliary Airfield 2, located southeast of the air station on the Barry M. Goldwater Range, as their primary carrier trainer. However, a ship provides pilots realistic conditions at sea.
"The winds are different, and the ship is actually moving. You can't replicate that at Aux-2," said Hurd.
While weather is one major difference for pilots, it is not the only change.
"The biggest difference for me was getting used to how busy the flight deck is. There are a lot of people on deck and everything is moving. It's a different environment," said Capt. Philipp Buckhahn, VMA-513 operations schedule writer, who received his first carrier qualification during the training.
Another benefit to being on ship is the experience the deck crew receives.
"For some of the plane captains, it's their first time directing on a ship," said Hurd.
Another important part of the predeployment preparation is maintaining the AV-8B Harrier fleet. Even while in garrison, the unit's maintainers put in tremendous hours.
"In order for the mission to be accomplished, those young bucks out there are working 12, 16 hours a day, making all these things happen," said Sgt. Maj. Russell Brown, VMA-513 sergeant major.
The unit will begin deployment workups in March and will deploy later this year.
The unit will be split in half with deployments to Southeast Asia and to the Middle East, said Hurd.
For about half of VMA-513 pilots, this will be their first deployment, said Hurd.
The Nightmares returned from the 31st MEU in July 2008 after a seven-month deployment to Southeast Asia.
---
Reprinted from The Desert Warrior, the newspaper of the Marine Corps Air Station.
Ellie