Test helping put the LIDS on decontamination Published Nov. 17, 2005 By Tech. Sgt. Arlo Taylor 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. (AFPN) -- Airmen from four major commands were here this week to test the effectiveness of a new decontamination system during an exercise that ends Nov. 18. The team is testing the lightweight inflatable decontamination system to see if it can effectively accomplish aircrew and ground crew contamination control in area personnel processing operations. “We’re asking the Air Force to test [LIDS] against existing CCA (contamination control area) processing procedures to see if it results in people being able to process from MOPP-4 contaminated environment into a clean environment,” said Thomas Graham, Air Force Special Operations Command civil engineer readiness chief. Mr. Graham said. “Ultimately, test results will provide major commands a fielding recommendation to be able to pursue procurement of the system.” The test team includes member from AFSOC, Air Mobility Command Air Combat Command and Air Education and Training Command. The test was scheduled for Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. But in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, testing moved here. The 28th Test Squadron from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is sponsoring the test. “The advantage we see to LIDS is it’s a lighter, quicker -- and a cheaper way to meet mission requirements,” Mr. Graham said. Approximately 120 people will process through the LIDS system during the test. The test will decontaminate five different suits. That includes two variations of the ground crew ensembles, level-A hazardous material suits, air crew ensembles and fire fighter ‘J-Fire’ suits. The LIDS system comes in one box weighing approximately 1,300 pounds that includes five inflatable stations, lights, generator, blower and weights. “This system is another tool to support decon procedures,” said Bobby Clarke, a LIDS representative. “It can be set up in 20 minutes by six people. Our charter was to make a system that is lightweight and easy to move so you could put a couple on one pallet and move it to another location as needed.” The test will also measure how well the new system meshes with current Air Force decontamination processes. “This is a technology that we think has a lot of merit in improving what we have already fielded,” said Mr. Graham. “We’re using current Air Force approved procedures and adapting them to this system.” Mr. Graham said test participants were sprayed with a simulated contaminate and went through each contamination containment system step and procedure to see whether or not any contamination exists at the end of the line. At the end of the procedures, participants will walk though a ultra-violet black-light room to see if any of the simulated contaminate is on their suits. Test results will be announced Nov. 18.