Lajes Field Airmen help disabled French aircraft

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. George Tobias
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores (AFNS) --  Airmen at Lajes Field were ready to lend a helping hand as a disabled Air France 777 passenger aircraft was diverted here Jan. 4 then assisted with getting the jet airborne again.

At 6 p.m. Jan. 4, the Lajes Field command post staff was notified of an in-flight emergency on the Air France jet over the Atlantic Ocean that lost one of its two engines and needed to land as soon as possible.

With about 480 people on board, the plane landed at Lajes Field just two hours after notification. The plane's disabled engine was the No. 1 engine and it had lost its gear box. The engine had to be shut down because it was inoperable after its gear box went out. 

"It is not a component that you can just fix," said Maj. Douglas McClain, the 729th Air Mobility Squadron commander. "You have to replace the entire engine. It's a 22,000-pound engine that's worth about $23 million."

Once the plane arrived, the local airport was not prepared to handle a 777 aircraft because the arrival was not at a standard time and they did not have the manning to support the Air France plane. There was a call asking for the assistance of the 729th AMS to help transport passengers from the aircraft, which was parked on the military side of the airfield, to the civilian airport. 

Members of the 729th AMS worked along with the 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron to provide buses and drivers to shuttle passengers off the flightline. Due to a weather warning of lightning strikes within 5 nautical miles from here, it was imperative to get the passengers off the flightline as soon as possible, Major McClain said.

"We are like a static aircraft carrier," the major said. "We are the primary divert location for a lot of the major airlines that fly through here, so if something goes bad and they cannot make it anywhere else, they are authorized to divert to this location."

On Jan. 5, another call for help came to base officials requesting assistance in downloading a spare engine, support equipment and engine trailers off of an inbound 747 aircraft, which was due in three hours. Working with the 65th Air Base Wing Judge Advocate Office and with Air Mobility Command officials, the 729th AMS staff was able to get approval in time to help with Air France's request for support. Though, due to snow storms in Paris, the aircraft was delayed, and it did not come in until Jan. 6.

The local commercial airlines on the Azores, which only have lift equipment that can handle up to 15,000 pounds, did not have the capability to support Air France. Without the support of the Airmen at Lajes Field, Air France would have to fly in a loader on another 747 aircraft just to download the equipment.

Normally, military members are not allowed to touch commercial aircraft. 

"The main reason is liability," said Lt. Col. Jeffery Ferguson of the 65th ABW Judge Advocate Office. "There are provisions that allow us to provide assistance if it is due to an in-flight emergency, to provide minor repair and assistance to aircraft."

Major McClain worked with Air France before any support was provided to get a certificate of insurance and realization that the Air Force would not be held liable for any accidental damage to any of their equipment.

"From the time the plane landed to the download, it was just as seamless as if it was any other C-17 (Globemaster III), C-5 (Galaxy) or C-130 (Hercules)," Major McClain said. "My aeroport professionals just rolled out, got the brief, took a look at what we got, put together a plan, did a safety briefing, made sure we have the right people and the right equipment and knew what we were doing. The download was just as smooth as silk."

One challenge faced during the operation was the need for a forklift due to the fact that the dolly the engine was sitting on had its wheels folded up for transport so that it laid flat and fit on a cargo floor of the aircraft. 

Gary Rucks, the terminal manager for the 838th Transportation Battalion of the Azores Detachment, who happened to have a forklift that could lift up to 48,000 pounds, was contacted and the detachment brought the forklift down from the port in Praia to the flightline.

"It was really a rather simple operation," the major said. "It was one that we were lucky to have all the equipment to piece together between two different commands, both Army and Air Force's AMC, to be able to help Air France out."

Because of the support of Airmen at Lajes Field, Air France saved a lot of money; however, everything was done on a reimbursable basis, so Air France will reimburse the federal government for all the equipment that was used and the manpower.

The 65th Operations Support Squadron also provided support to the crews of Air France. The 65th OSS staff provided a power cart for the 747 aircraft, because when the plane landed the auxiliary power unit on it was inoperable and they need an external power source. With that support, the 747 was in and out of Lajes Field in a short amount of time.

"This is one of those opportunities that you don't get at many other locations," Major McClain said. "At Lajes, we are guests here on Portuguese soil and we try and help them out by helping Air France out." 

This support helps the Portuguese because it maintains this area as a viable location for aircraft to divert in and out of. 

"It's one of those things that while being isolated sometimes can be a bad thing, but often times it opens doors to opportunities to maintain good bilateral relations with our hosts and other foreign NATO governments," he said.

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