Airmen train in Spain

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tabitha Mans
  • 31st Fighter Wing public affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) --  Airmen from the 555th Fighter Squadron and the 555th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here deployed to Zaragoza Air Base, Spain Jan. 22 through Feb. 12 to accomplish training exercises and work with members of the Spanish air force.

"The Spanish (airmen) are great hosts and we were able to conduct training we cannot do back home," said Lt. Col. Robert Winkler, the 555th FS commander. "By working together it brings both our air forces to a higher level."

During this deployment, all the 555th FS pilots completed their NATO Squares requirements. NATO requires each pilot to achieve a certain number of weapons deliveries using live practice bombs annually to stay NATO qualified. Normally, throughout the year, the squadron will deploy multiple times, totaling 12 to 15 weeks away from station, to achieve these requirements. However, this year they compressed this training into one three-week deployment to Zaragoza AB.

While there, the 555th FS pilots flew 239 sorties in nine flying days for a total of 30 sorties a day. This is eight sorties more than a typical day at home station.

The 555th FS Airmen were also given the opportunity to accomplish low flying training. At Zaragoza AB, they can also fly at low altitudes at night, gradually get their speed up and employ night air-to-ground-weapons, just like they would in support of combat operations.

"This training allows them to operate in all altitudes similar to the environment in Iraq and Afghanistan," Colonel Winkler said. "Young pilots, who have only been to Aviano (AB), need opportunities to receive this training to properly develop."

Flying with the Spanish air force allowed Aviano AB pilots the chance to complete vital air-to-air combat training. The pilots practiced basic fighter maneuvers with the Spanish F-18 Hornet and Euro Fighter Typhoon pilots.

"Pilots don't get to train like that on a day-to-day basis," Colonel Winkler said. "Anytime forces are working together closely with other NATO partners, they become more integrated, more understanding of the differences that they have, and they are also understanding of the synergies that can be gained from working together."

Airmen from the 555th AMU were also able to train during this deployment. Although the maintainers are continually trained back at home station, this allowed them to work with more aircraft in a compressed period of time. This gave them a feel for combat operations.