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Arnold Fire and Emergency Services team gets up-close look at military helicopters.

News March 3, 2020 Daniel Prince

ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – As U.S. Army helicopters one-by-one landed in the center of the running track outside the Administration and Engineering Building... Arnold Fire and Emergency Services team gets up-close look at military helicopters.

ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. – As U.S. Army helicopters one-by-one landed in the center of the running track outside the Administration and Engineering Building at Arnold Air Force Base Dec. 20, several passersby stopped to watch the aircraft, sending a cyclone of leaves flying as they maneuvered to the ground.

Arnold Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services personnel receive training Dec. 20, 2019, to become familiar with the working parts of different military helicopters, from members of U.S. Army units based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (U.S. Air Force photo by Deidre Moon)

The helicopters – a MH-6 Little Bird, an UH-60 Black Hawk and a CH-47 Chinook – piloted by members of a U.S. Army unit based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, were requested as part of the Arnold AFB Fire and Emergency Services team’s familiarization training with the aircraft.

 Arnold Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services personnel listen as a member of a U.S. Army unit based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, describes the equipment inside the helicopter as part of a training exercise Dec. 20, 2019, at Arnold Air Force Base. The training is meant to familiarize the FES personnel with the working parts of different military helicopters should they ever be called to assist in an emergency involving such aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Deidre Moon)

“Periodically, we like to see if we can get the helicopters to come out here,” said Jim Evans, an assistant fire chief with FES. “This was the first time the helicopters have been able to make it down during this crew’s shift.”

Evans mentioned a part of the base is used by the U.S. Army for training purposes, so familiarity with these helicopters is important in the event FES is called to assist in a situation involving the aircraft.

 A member of the Arnold Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services watches as a crew with a U.S. Army unit out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, prepares a UH-60 Black Hawk for takeoff from Arnold after assisting with a training exercise Dec. 20, 2019. The training is meant to help familiarize the FES team with the working parts of different military helicopters so they would be able to safely assist if called to an emergency involving such aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Deidre Moon)
 

“We train on how to approach and egress from helicopters safely, how to get the doors open and the location of equipment onboard,” he said. “It also gives us a chance to talk to the pilots and crews.

“In the event there’s an issue with one of these helicopters during an exercise on base, this type of training makes us familiar with the helicopter and how to get in it. It’s a good learning experience, because there are a lot of differences between military helicopters and the medevac air ambulances.”

A Boeing CH-47 Chinook lands at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., as part of a training exercise Dec. 20, 2019, for members of Arnold Fire and Emergency Services. During the training, the FES personnel learned about the equipment and various working parts of three different U.S. Army helicopters in the event the team is called to an emergency situation involving such aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Deidre Moon)

While the FES team has opportunities to watch training videos about Army helicopters and their equipment, Evans explained that nothing beats the opportunity to get hands-on experience.

“There are videos and schematics, but actually being able to be hands-on and see where the switches and handles are, it helps increase our knowledge-base,” he said.

 Arnold Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services personnel pause for a group photo after receiving training Dec. 20, 2019, from members with U.S. Army units based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, who showed the team various equipment and working parts of Army helicopters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Deidre Moon)
 

The helicopter familiarization training is only one of many exercises the FES team completes throughout the year.

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