C-5M ground training still a go

Tech. Sgt. Ryan Berry, 312th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, left, and Master Sgt. James Spinner, 9th AS flight engineer, inspect the underside of a C-5M Super Galaxy’s wing while conducting pre-flight procedures during initial qualification training March 10, 2016, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Flight engineers perform aircraft visual inspections and in-flight duties, such as operating and monitoring engine and aircraft systems controls, panels, indicators and devices. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia)

C-5M ground training still a go

Thomas Lejeune, FlightSafety flight engineer instructor, takes Senior Airman Nick Johnson, 22d Airlift Squadron flight engineer, and Tech. Sgt. Chris Morris, 9th AS flight engineer, through C-5M Super Galaxy pre-flight procedures March 10, 2016, on Dover Air Force Base, Del. In addition to classroom instruction, flight engineer students receive in-depth ground training with the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia)

C-5M ground training still a go

Ralph Kellenberger, FlightSafety flight engineer instructor, walks Tech. Sgt. Ryan Berry, 312th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, and Master Sgt. James Spinner, 9th AS flight engineer, through C-5M Super Galaxy pre-fight procedures during initial qualification training March 10, 2016, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. FlightSafety operates on Dover AFB as a contractor that trains Air Force pilots and flight engineers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia)

C-5M ground training still a go

Senior Airman Nick Johnson, 22d Airlift Squadron flight engineer, goes through C-5M Super Galaxy pre-flight procedures during initial qualification training March 10, 2016, inside a C-5M flight deck on Dover Air Force Base, Del. The C-5M is the largest airlifter in the Air Force’s inventory, capable of heavy intercontinental strategic airlift. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia)

C-5M ground training still a go

Ralph Kellenberger, FlightSafety flight engineer instructor, takes Tech. Sgt. Ryan Berry, 312th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, and Master Sgt. James Spinner, 9th AS flight engineer, through C-5M Super Galaxy pre-fight procedures during initial qualification training March 10, 2016, inside a C-5M on Dover Air Force Base, Del. All Team Dover flight engineer and pilot students go through FlightSafety prior to being sent to the Formal Training Unit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia)

C-5M ground training still a go

Tech. Sgt. Ryan Berry, 312th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, left, and Master Sgt. James Spinner, 9th AS flight engineer, go through pre-flight procedures during initial qualification training inside a C-5M Super Galaxy March 10, 2016, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Flight engineer students go through hours of ground training prior to going on a local flying training mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia)

C-5M ground training still a go

Published March 15, 2016
By Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Even though the majority of Team Dover's C-5M Super Galaxy fleet is temporarily operating out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, C-5M training will still go on at Dover AFB.

Since February 2015, Dover AFB's north-south Runway 01-19 has been closed to undergo a complete $98.3 million renovation. The base's other runway, 14-32, has been fully operational until now. The construction project has reached the stage in which the intersection of both runways require work. This phase of construction has temporarily cut the length of Runway 14-32 from 12,900 feet to 6,000 feet, altering its operational capabilities for the C-5M.

Runway 14-32's 6,000 feet is enough for a C-5M to safely take-off and land, but only when carrying a minimal amount of weight, cargo and fuel. For this reason, it was decided to temporarily move the C-5M fleet to JB MDL in order for them to ensure the continued success of the Air Force's rapid global mobility mission.

Not all of Dover's C-5Ms have departed. For the next few months there will be one or two C-5s at Dover receiving heavy maintenance. In addition to this, one to two, depending on mission tempo, fully operational C-5s have been designated to stay behind to be used for training.

"There will be one here for the reservists, so they can do local training missions," said Lt. Col. Charles Throckmorton, 436th Operations Support Squadron director of operations. "We will also use that same aircraft as a ground trainer, so all of our flight safety students and any other agency that need it for training, such as maintenance or the fire department, will have access to it. So that airplane is going to be pretty busy, we are going to utilize it pretty much around the clock."

For C-5M flight engineer students, ground training is a requirement. FlightSafety operates on Dover AFB as a contractor to train these students prior to them being sent to the 436th Operations Support Squadron's Formal Training Unit.

According to Jerry Diamond, FlightSafety registrar, the C-5Ms' move to JB MDL has not caused much of a disruption to training.

"As far as the training goes, it's a little bit tricky getting the ground trainers with only two airplanes here for training," said Diamond. "There are a lot of people and units on base who use ground trainers."

FlightSafety has roughly 20 students going through training at any given time.

"We teach initial qualifications and recurring training for the C-5 flight engineers and pilots," said Thomas Lejeune, FlightSafety flight engineer instructor. "Most of the instruction we do is in the classroom or in a simulator, but we do have to go out and do ground training with the aircraft as well."

Besides flight engineers and pilots, ground training is required for maintainers, fire fighters, loadmasters and others to ensure completion of current training requirements and mission success.