Presenter discusses a two modular airborne firefighting systems during a tour of the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson AFB, CO.  (Photo by Scott Hendrickson)
 

By Scott Hendrickson, AFIT EWI Fellow, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Scott Hendrickson, Air Force Institute of Technology Education with Industry Fellow at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, attended the American Association of Airport Executives Industrial Aviation and Military Operations Workshop from 3-5 March 2020.

According to AAAE, the workshop unites military leaders, federal officials, industry colleagues and other aviation professionals at the only training workshop created to discuss the latest regulations, technologies, and issues concerning military/civilian airfield operations.

The multi-day workshop consisted of multiple panels of industry leaders speaking on topics such as industrial aviation, industrial airport operational procedures, FAA programs and perspectives/military airport program, military transition programs, civil/military partnerships, and land use planning in civil/military environments.

The Airfield Management Career Field Manager, CMSgt Jeffrey Stockwell, was also in attendance and took the opportunity to speak about AFIT’s Education with Industry program highlighting the career broadening opportunity.

Attendees also toured the Colorado Springs International Airport and the Air Force Academy.  The tour of Colorado Springs covered the airport grounds to include tenant spaces and their business park. The Air Force Academy tour included a mission brief as well as personal tours of the different aircraft utilized in their training.

Peterson AFB is co-located with Colorado Springs International Airport which enabled attendees to also tour the 302nd Airlift Wing. One of their missions during the summer is to help combat forest fires utilizing modular airborne firefighting systems installed in C-130’s.  These large systems can discharge 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds.

On the final day of the workshop, AAAE hosted a Civilian/Military Airport Connection Mini-Course designed to bridge the gap between military and civilian airport operations. Attendees were briefed on the different certifications that AAAE offers, as well as some of the differences between military and civilian airport operations.
 

Civilian/Military Airport Connection Mini-Course group photo. The course is designed to bridge the gap between military and civilian airport operations. (Photo by Rob Haner)