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About 9:15 AM we drove the 12 miles to CG Aviation Training Center Mobile. Lt. Chris Groom greeted us and immediately earned our respect by revealing he had researched the history of SEBAGO and that he himself was a mustang, coming through the ranks to earn his CG Aviator number, #3700. More than double the number of Coast Guardsmen have been aviators than ever sailed aboard SEBAGO.
L/R - Jeanne Terrell, Dave Willians, John Powers, Lt Groom, Lee Wonnacott
(Click on image to see at full size)
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Groom led us from the reception area to the oldest maintenance hanger for the first part of our tour. We were quite impressed that the faclity has grown so large and continues to expand. The ATC currently has about 500 Coasties and civilian contract employees aboard as permanent staff. They have a decently sized exchange, E and O clubs, and several recreational areas to use. (Click on image to see at full size)
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Were we surprised, the group was allowed complete access to working spaces. Although it was an early liberty day with two retirement ceremonies underway, aircraft being attended to in each of the hangars we visited and training operations were evident on the flight line. (Click on image to see at full size)
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Coast Guard aircrews learn about four different here at Mobile; the HU-25 Guardian, HH-60 Jayhawk, HH-65 Dolphin, and the HC-144A Ocean Sentry. Mobile is also an operational Coast Guard Air Station and dispatches SAR missions from this flight line.
The French built HU-25 caused much ado when it was first introduced into the CG Aviation fleet. It's being replaced by the Spanish built HC-144A. The transition from a fan jet aircraft to a turbo-prop seems a step back from performance, and it is, but for the flight crews it's a big step up in SAR capability. (Click on image to see at full size)
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In the space of 20 minutes the helicopters in this hangar became the highlight photos of everybody's album. They were spotless and again reminded us that this 'modern' Coast Guard is much more sophisticated that our 'old' Guard.
L/R - Tom Kirk, Michael Case, Amy Blair, Jim Blair. Many thanks to Michael Case for arranging these tours. (Click on image to see at full size)
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While this may have been a lark for the old geezers, two youngsters in the crowd participated in a great recruiting opportunity. John Powers' grandson, Steven, changed his mind about joining the Navy and is now set for the Coast Guard. My own granddaughter, Chelsey, after seen so many women in uniform around ATC Mobile began asking me serious questions and I think she may be talking with a recruiter soon.
L/R - Steven Powers, Debbie Savage, Tom Kirk, Lee Wonnacott, Pinky Mee, and Dave Willaims (Click on image to see at full size)
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An aircrew brief.
Regardless of our visit, these are still 'working' hangars, the duty personnel ignored us for the most part and conducted their normal routines. From what I could discern, these shipmates were aircrew and maintenance techs discussing a maintenance issue. (Click on image to see at full size)
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An aircrew brief.
The Aerospatiale HH-65 is a beautiful aircraft, but when first integrated to the fleet there were problems and some brave Coastie aircrews didn't survive the engineering flaws. The Bravo and Charlie models of the HH-65 addressed these issues by installing different engine, a re-designed 'fenestron', and many other items.
The new fenestron (Rear rotor) makes the aircraft quieter and the pilots say the Charlie is much more agile and easier to fly in many situations. (Click on image to see at full size)
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Lt. Christopher Groom, USCG
I can't say enough about this pilot and his professionalism. He was articulate, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. As an instructor pilot he is responsible for ensuring that all the Coast Guard pilots in the fleet maintain the 'edge' that allows them to perform a dangerous job safely, and with alacrity and aplomb. (Click on image to see at full size)
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The Fenestron
The Aerospatiale helicopter designs don't have a conventional tail rotor design. They employ an enclosed rotor system that is very similar to a ducted fan. The differences between rotor, fan, and fenestron get complicated, so we'll just avoid the discussion and concentrate on the next photo, taken by my daughter. I must say, she has a wicked sense of humor. (Click on image to see at full size)
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If my daughter, Patty, wasn't so nice to me I'd probably be a little miffed over this photo - but she might be referring to one of the others in the photo. I'll give her the benefit of a doubt.
L/R: Jim Blair, Lee Wonnacott, Tom Kirk, Jeanne Terrell. (Click on image to see at full size)
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Rich and Sam are trying to figure out the technical aspects, John just wants to shoot a five inch gun!
L/R: Rich London, Sam Schambeau, John Powers, Betty Schambeau. (Click on image to see at full size)
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At this point Groom surprised us. He asked that everybody give him their cameras. Okay... we thought maybe there was a security problem. Then he started asking each owner how to trip the trigger on the camera.... the result is what you see next.
L/R: Lt Groom and Amy Blair. (Click on image to see at full size)
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L/R: Michael Case, Tom Kirk, John Powers, Pinky Mee, Jim Blair, Amy Blair, Lee Wonnacott, Ken Savage, Debbie Savage, Steven Powers, Dave Williams, Jeanne Terrell, Sam Schambeau, Betty Schambeau, Rich London, Bonnie London.. (Click on image to see at full size)
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We exit the main hangar and move toward the flight line area, currently completely empty. Lt Groom explains that nearly a dozen aircraft are normally on the line, staged for training, maintenance, and SAR flights at any given time, weather permitting. (Click on image to see at full size)
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We stopped briefly outside of the safety office where Lt Groom grabs a fully stocked flight vest. The vest is equipped with flares, an emergency oxygen supply in case of a water ditching, a knife, and emergency beacon (EPIRB). Emergency egress from the cockpit is taught and practiced right here at ATC in a training pool.
This gear is maintained by the enlisted personnel holding the Aviation Survival Technician (AST) rating. Their basic A school stint is four months, with even further training as they advance to EMT and Rescue Swimmer details.
(Click on image to see at full size)
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These two pilots have completed their flight and are heading for a quick debrief and maybe a bit of rest. The HH-60 began to replace the HH-3F Pelican in the early 90's. It has a top speed just over 200 MPH but normal cruise is about 160 MPH and at that speed it has a maximum range of about 700 nautical miles.
Like the HH-65 Dolphin, the Jayhawk is undergoing a fleet upgrade that will allow it to fly armed interdiction missions and the new package includes armor plate to protect the crew from small arms fire.
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Coast Guard aviation has usually bought its' aircraft 'off the shelf', requiring only minor modifications to civil aircraft to perform the mission. The HC-144A is built by EADS in Spain. EADS is an association of aircraft manufacturing interests in Spain and Indonesia. The HC-144A can trace its lineage to the popular commuter aircraft, the CASA 212.
It's a sleek aircraft with an established reputation for performance, I'm already trying to figure a way to get an opportunity to fly it.
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Airframe CG 2304 is the fourth of eight aircraft delivered by EADS to date. The CG has committed to taking 36 into the fleet.
CG 2302 set the standard for this model on its very first flight from Mobile. It acted as the on scene commander over the Gulf of Mexico after the mid-air collision of two Air Force jets offshore from Eglin Air Force Base. It located one of the surviving pilots and coordinated the pick up efforts of several CG and USAF air and floating units during the rescue.
(Click on image to see at full size)
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Few non-pilots believe a utility aircraft to be beautiful, but Ocean Sentry is a sleek looking design. The aircraft is capable of nine hour flights when using fuel economy measures. It more than doubles the on scene loiter time of the HU-25 Guardian that it replaces.
If anybody at ATC thinks I'd be a good civilian to take aboard for a Fam Flight and subsequent article to appear in the trades ... just email me. I can be at ECity in four hours and down to Mobile in nine...
(Click on image to see at full size)
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Two HC-144A's were training when we got to the hangar and one is just now taxiing up. I'm getting the ache to fly again - we better leave the ramp or I'll be pounding on the recruiters door asking how much it will cost me to reenlist.
(Click on image to see at full size)
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The last stop before chow is the classroom center, where the highlight is a peek at a full motion simulator. Unlike U.S. Navy pilots, Coast Guard aviators don't fly onto a pitching deck with hooks down - although they DO get that training at Pensacola. Instead, our aviators are routinely expected to fly through the roughest of weather over water, through mountain passes, and into remote areas when a failure of any sort can be catastrophic.
The simulators here ensure our pilots have the skills and mental attitudes required to meet the challenges they and their enlisted air crews face each day.
(Click on image to see at full size)
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