Air Station Auxiliary Aviators Prove Invaluable

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1 Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary April 26, Robert A. Fabich, Sr., FSO-SR Christiansted, St. Croix USVI News Release Air Station Auxiliary Aviators Prove Invaluable SAN JUAN, P.R. - The annual United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Aviation Safety Workshop for Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen (BQN) was held March 2-4, 2012 with more than 40 aviators attending from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The Auxiliary Aviation Coordinator (AAC) for Air Station BQN, Charles "Chuck" Fischer, opened the workshop highlighting accomplishments, offering praise and honoring the fallen. "This year's assembly holds a special significance for the value of service we as Auxiliary members provide in conjunction with assisting operations at Air Station BQN" he said, also reflecting upon the recent USCG training accident in Mobile, Alabama. LTJG Thomas Cameron, a Coast Guard pilot based at Air Station BQN, and three other crew members were killed when their MH-65 helicopter, also called the Dolphin, crashed during a night training exercise February 28, BQN, Puerto Rico - ACC Charles "Chuck" Fischer reviews notes prior to the opening ceremony at the annual USCG Auxiliary Aviation Safety Workshop. Photo by Duane Minton.

2 Commander Melissa Rivera, Executive Officer, Air Station BQN, presented the Auxiliary Achievement Award to Carlos Matos, Auxiliary Air First Pilot (FP), from Puerto Rico. "Carlos is one of BQN's most outstanding USCG Auxiliary Air contributors. During the past two years, he recruited seven new members, flew more than 10 interagency missions, and in 2011 alone, he registered 186 flight hours." CDR Rivera continued, "Carlos's achievements are much appreciated and are substantially higher than most Auxiliary pilots." Assisting with awards were CDR Timothy Denby, Operations Officer Air Station BQN, Lieutenant (LT) Michael McCarty and Auxiliary Assistant Aviation Coordinator (AAAC) Douglas Armstrong, Vice Flotilla Commander of Christiansted A Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation Award was presented to the Auxiliary Air Unit. The award represented an average 80% per year increase in flight hours over the past three years, and a 60% increase in the last year, exceeding a mission goal set by the Auxiliary Unit. Each year Auxiliary Air recognizes its top performers for hours flown under USCG orders. The top performers for 2011, flying in excess of 100 hours each, included FP Carlos Matos, FP Dana Prairie, Aircraft Commander Chuck Fischer, and Air Crew Duane Minton. The Career Mission Hours Award was presented to members who had achieved 100, 250 or 500 flight hours during their career as an Auxiliary Air member. Recognized were FP Carlos Matos, AAC Chuck Fischer, FP Dana Prairie, AAAC Douglas Armstrong, Aircraft Commander Douglas Hansen, FP George Miller and Air Crew Duane Minton. Air Observers included Greg Worrel, Lee Elvins (Division Commander 16), Paul Lordi and Rosemarie Moscia. It was noted by AAAC Armstrong that these hours are accumulated only when the aircraft engines are running. Hundreds of additional hours are provided by members for pre and post flight checks and administrative duties. Following the awards, Auxiliary members participated in a variety of educational sessions for meeting their annual Auxiliary Air requirements. CDR Denby outlined Air Station BQN operational updates and procedures. Captain Lago, MD Air Station BQN, presented information about Aero-Medical Facts for Aviation, including the significance of biannual physical examinations, fitness programs, nutritious diets and moderation in alcohol consumption.

3 Douglas Armstrong detailed local pre and post mission procedures and interagency communications requirements. He also addressed technological equipment and use of computers for flight missions. Douglas Hansen presented egress training, and George Miller reviewed required equipment, supplies and inspections. LT Kimmel, Air Station BQN, instructed in Crew Resource Management emphasizing the dangers of crew fatigue. Duane Minton discussed the need for high quality camera equipment to capture images that will be useful to the Coast Guard. BQN, Puerto Rico - Following his instructional session, Douglas Armstrong (right front) addresses questions asked by attendees during a workshop module at the Auxiliary Aviation Safety Workshop Saturday March 2, Photo by Duane Minton. Annual re-certification, operational level testing, and Incident Command 210 training were also provided for members' compliance in order to maintain Auxiliary Air status. BQN, Puerto Rico - Air Crew members performed the swim quantification tests under the supervision of Air Station BQN rescue swimmers. Here several Auxiliary pilots and crew swim the 75 yards in flight suits and then crawl into an emergency raft. P hot o b y D o ugl as A r mstrong. The USCG has long been involved with aviation. As far back as 1915, the Coast Guard used a Curtis flying boat as the test model of whether aviation was practical for search and rescue. Today, it s obvious that after those first steps, the Aviation Program has developed into one of the major components of the Search and Rescue (SAR) mission of the Coast Guard. The USCG Auxiliary has longer been a model for their contributions to boating safety with very active surface programs. Aviators wanted to create an equivalent program for the skies and like

4 their boating colleagues, offered their own planes to be facilities. These fliers provided their aviation expertise and with the USCG developed rigorous safety guidelines to be an integral part of the training and operations. According to Coast Guard history, Auxiliary pilots first flew during 1943, in the midst of World War II. The first official mention of Auxiliary aviation occurred when Congress passed Public Law 451, in September 1945, permitting aircraft to be used by the Auxiliary. BQN, Puerto Rico - Networking, Observer Nelson Acevedo and FP Juvenal Aponte discuss operational procedures during a session break at the annual Auxiliary A v i ation S a f et y Workshop. Photo by Duane Minton. Typical missions that Auxiliary Aviators fly include: SAR - Search and Rescue Missions. During a SAR mission, aircraft fly pre-determined search patterns based on complex computer algorithms looking for missing persons in the water, disabled boats, etc. These algorithms use the last known or assumed position of the missing person or vessel, wind, current, type of vessel, etc. MOM Patrol - Maritime Observation Missions. Law Enforcement Support missions designed to assist the USCG in locating and following individuals in water-borne vessels attempting to illegally immigrate, import illegal drugs or banned items. LMR Mission - Living Marine Resource. Air patrol support of Coast Guard missions to monitor closed or restricted fishing areas. MEP Mission - Marine Environmental Protection. Missions include support in locating and estimating sizes of oil slicks and other environmental accidents. ATON Patrols Aids to Navigation. Flights designed to monitor location and integrity of vessel navigational aids. IOM - Ice Operations Mission. Air support in the area of ice patrol operations. Aircraft search for and report ice blockages of major ports and rivers. LM - Logistics Mission. Transportation of personnel and equipment. Auxiliary aircraft and crew transport individuals and equipment for all types of Coast Guard and humanitarian support. Auxiliary Aviation is not just for pilots! Auxiliary members and any US Citizen, after passing initial security screening, can participate in the program. While the USCG Auxiliary does not

5 issue pilot licenses, it does train Pilots, Observers and Air Crew in the art of being part of the crew in an Auxiliary aircraft under USCG orders. Aviation crew must also undergo enhanced security checks in order to become qualified for Direct Operations (DO). USCG Auxiliary aircrew are comprised of: Aircraft Commanders - Pilots with more than 1000 Pilot in Command (PIC) hours, an instrument rating, and training in SAR procedures. First Pilots - Pilots with more than 500 PIC hours and training in SAR procedures. Co-Pilots - Pilots with more than 200 PIC hours but with restrictions on flyable missions. Observers - Trained in observation, communications, and the aviation programs. There are minimum crew requirements on operational missions. Air Crew - An upgrade for Observers who successfully complete additional training. Training elements consist of communications, navigation, weather, and flight planning. Located at Rafael Hernandez Airport on the Northwest tip of Puerto Rico, and with a name derived from the Taino Indian name for Puerto Rico, Air Station Borinquen's primary mission is search and rescue. Operating as a unit within Sector San Juan, it s Area of Responsibility is over one million square miles. Secondary missions include: law enforcement surveillance for illicit drug traffic, illegal immigrants, other maritime observation missions, aerial support for aids to navigation, marine environmental protection, logistic support, etc. AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico - Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, formerly Ramey Air Force Base. U.S. Coast Guard photo, source file, BQN website. The Air Station coordinates approximately 300 SAR cases and 450 Law Enforcement Sorties per year. This could not be accomplished without the direct support of the USCG Auxiliary Air Operations Team. There are Auxiliary aircraft facilities, single and twin engine propeller aircraft and one jet, located on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and on Puerto Rico. Working together, the USCG and Auxiliary Air team is an excellent example of true fellowship and partnership at work. For more information about the US Coast Guard Auxiliary air program, visit Source: Chuck Fischer, Douglas Armstrong, Duane Minton, Lee Elvins (Air Station Borinquen); Wayne Spivak (National Press Corps, PA Dept. USCG Auxiliary); website (BQN). ###