KC-10 cargo load training facility opens doors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Col. Dwight Sones, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, is scheduled to cut the ribbon on the new KC-10 Cargo Load Training Facility today at 10 a.m.

The structure will be the first of its kind in the Air Force, as a facility for cargo load training on the KC-10 Extender did not exist before today. The building will allow Airmen to train on cargo loading without an aircraft.

Before the facility was built, personnel only had two methods of training; they would go on actual cargo missions or use scheduled static load training operations.

Static load training operations occur several times each month and require aircraft to be powered by an external power cart for several hours and it takes an aircraft off the maintenance schedule. The result was an increase in fuel costs to run the power cart and longer turn times for aircraft availability.

The new facility will not only alleviate the rising fuels costs, but will make more Travis aircraft available for real-world missions. The aircraft will no longer be dedicated to training several times per month, as well as, local flights scheduled for load training.

"A major benefit of having a dedicated facility like this one is that not only can boom operators train on how to load cargo, but Security Forces, the Fire Department and Aerial Port can perform egress and cargo load training here too," said Tech Sgt. James Cain, 60th Operations Support Squadron, NCOIC KC-10 Wing boom operator training.

In addition to egress training, several aspects of academic training can take place completely in house. There are two classrooms for instructional training, a bay area for hands-on training and an outdoor cargo dock for pallet loading training.

The ability to perform so many functions of their training in one facility will also free up boom operators to acquire and maintain proficiency in training that does not require aircraft. With their days not being taken up with static training and flying local training missions, boom operators can maximize available time to complete small arms, chemical defense and similar mobility readiness training, Cain said.

In addition to training benefits, many positive byproducts are expected to come along with the new facility. Aircraft scheduling will have a lightened load. With fewer training flights, aircraft can be focused on real-world missions. Certification deadlines for boom operators can be met more easily. Always having a training facility available will increase their mission effectiveness. General wear and tear on aircraft will be greatly reduced. The aircraft will be utilized more often for real-world missions, as opposed to training.