Florida Airmen battle surf-sand menace to CSAR aircraft

  • Published
  • By Maj. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  When deployed to combat, enemy fire is one of biggest threats to 920th Rescue Wing Airmen when saving lives. However, the surf and sand that attracts vacationers to the barrier island where Patrick Air Force Base sits, has proven to be just as menacing.

Salt eats metal and sand pollutes machinery. CSAR aircraft are magnets for both.

The Atlantic Ocean breaks surf a few hundred feet to the east of the aircraft parking ramp, and the salt meets fresh-water mix that is the Banana River, borders it a few hundred feet to the west.

All CSAR aircraft takeoffs and landings endure a salty sand blast to varying degrees requiring a rinse of some sort upon return. However, HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters are smaller and fly lower than the HC-130 King tanker aircraft, requiring more baths.

The beach environment is toxic to aircraft causing maintenance Airmen to work at conditioning both CSAR airframes thoroughly before and after every mission. According to the 920th helicopter flight chief, Senior Master Sgt. Dean Peterson, anytime Rescue Airmen pilot the pave hawks within 10 nautical miles of salt water, the 920th Maintenance Group mandates rinsing the engines for optimal performance.
 
Aircrew Airmen taxi the helicopter through a series of fresh water jets called 'the bird bath' after local training missions.

"During a water operation mission where rescue training takes them within 30 feet of salt water, the entire airframe requires a rinse afterward," said Dean. "Pararescuemen are hoisting in and out of the pave hawks throwing saltwater and sand everywhere."

De-icing trucks are an added defense to the corrosion battle. The trucks that usually house a chemical mixture that melts snow and ice from aircraft wings, are used to provide a daily  rinse of solely water to the aircraft. 

All of the rinsing slows the corrosive effects of the beach, but being surrounded by salt water on both sides, makes it constant battle.

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