The White Falcon - 10.12.1993, Blaðsíða 5

The 56th Rescue Squadron was
instrumental in removing the 40-
year-old aircraft warning light
atop the Naval Air Station
Keflavfk water tower last week.
According to CEC Jim
Lampman, Public Works Depart-
ment utilties chief, a combination
of age and strong winds managed
to strip the gears of the rotating
mechanism, putting it out of com-
mission for the last two months.
The sheer 500-pound weight
and precarious location of the light
(right) made it necessary to per-
form repairs on the ground. A
special harness was fabricated to
suspend the blinker from the heli-
copter. The removal was well-
timed, considering the near white-
out conditions experienced the
next day.
(Photo by J03(SW) Andreas Walter)
k 57th Fighter Squadron
B continued from page 1
cloud ceiling. The squadron works hand in
hand with the Naval Air Station Keflavfk’s
Fire Department to ensure safe conditions,
both on the ground and in the air. The “Snow
King” division of the fire department is re-
sponsible for the clearing of all runways.
“We work around the clock to keep the
surfaces as free of ice and snow as possible.
Our equipment ranges from heavily-modi-
fied snow plows to powerful brooms and de-
icing equipment,” said Halldor Halldorsson,
Snow King 3. He added that the fire depart-
ment recently switched from granules to a
liquid form of ice-melting material.
In addition to making a constant clean
sweep of the runways the fire department
operates what is known as a measuring unit
(MU) device to keep the squadron abreast of
actual ninway conditions. “Essentially the
MU is a wheel towed behind a moving car
that relays information on available trac-
tion,” Marshall explained. “Based on these
readings, we can get an accurate picture of
what the runway surface is like at any given
time.
“The F-I5s we fly were never designed
kp be operated in this sort of environment.
^)ver the years, the manufacturer has gradu-
squadrons worldwide,” Marshall said. The
addition of a tailhook to snag an aircraft
carrier-like arresting wire was a welcome
feature to the Keflavfk pilots as were anti-
lock brakes. “The arresting wire provides an
added margin of safety in the event that a
mechanical failure knocks out the brakes, or
the surface of the runway is so slick that the
tires cannot grip adequately.”
Due to the kaleidoscope of weather
conditions in Iceland, the pilots must have
sufficient fuel reserves to divert if the skies
warrant. Therefore, the squadron’s F-15s sport
a feature known as conformal fuel tanks
(CFT). “We use CFTs to give us an addi-
tional 9,000 pounds of fuel. After a normal
training session, the planes usually land with
a ‘half tank’ of gas,” Marshall stated. “The
Scotland if needed.”
A quick glance out into the inky dark-
ness reveals blowing snow and clouds heavy
with precipitation, not the best recipe for
sending aircraft skyward. The mission of the
57th Fighter Squadron remains, although the
sky will surely change like... well, like the
Icelandic weather.
TVavelling down the Quality road with the 35th Wing
The 35 th Wing Commander
Col. Bran McAllister (back, left)
recently presented certificates to
a Quality Improvement Team
responsible for assessing the
processes involved with produc-
ing enlisted and officer perform-
ance reports. Receiving recog-
nition were (front, left to right)
Terry Moore, Chief Master Sgt.
(select) Marie Ashmore, Master
Sgt. Clark SL Clair, Chaplain
Dan Powell (back, right) and
Col. Robert Gmyrek. (Photo by
J02 Carlos Bongioanni)
December 10,1993
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