P a ge 17 t opside V olume 114 , I s s u e 4
Operation : SURFAIR
District Fifth Northern develops a joint Air and Surface Exercise by Joseph Smith , DCAPT D5NR
The Coast Guard Auxiliary boat crew had already transmitted their position , their boat ’ s clutch was in neutral and the engine at idle , they waited under a bright blue sky on calm open water . Although the weather was seasonably hot , the crew appreciated their Type III / V PFD suits since the colder water was absorbing the heat from the air above it . The distinctive buzzing sound of a propeller beating the air came toward them , growing louder with each passing moment . A minute later a blue and white single engine , low-wing aircraft swept into view .
Auxiliary vessel zero zero one , Auxiliary vessel zero zero one , this is Auxiliary aircraft six niner whiskey … Mark on Top … Over . Six niner whiskey , this is zero zero one … Roger , we have you Marked on Top … Over .
The radio communications was concise and professional , the event lasted only three minutes . But it was the culmination of weeks of planning for a surface and air training evolution that had never been done before .
Every Coast Guard Auxiliary District conducts surface and air operations ; and Coast Guard District Fifth Northern ’ s Auxiliary Air Program successfully organized those resources to work together and put them to the test in a unique coordinated training exercise .
Assigned the mission name Operation SURFAIR , on May 19th 2017 it was the first documented training maneuver to practice a Auxiliary aircraft interacting with an Auxiliary surface vessel in D5NR .
The training evolution took place on Barnegat Bay , New Jersey and utilized facilities from two separate Areas of Responsibility ( AOR ) - an aircraft from Division 08 in Cumberland County , and a surface vessel from Division 07 in Ocean County . The mission was organized by Joseph Giannattasio , 5NR ’ s District Staff Officer Aviation ( DSO-AV ) who explains the concept as , “ An alternative approach to provide a practical exercise for both aircrews and boat-crews that can be conducted during regularly scheduled patrols of vessels and aircraft within a district . More flexible than Auxiliary Search and Rescue ( AUXSAR ) exercises , it also allows for numerous vessels and crews to participate throughout an entire patrol season when they are underway .”
In his proposal to the District ’ s Operations Training Officer ( OTO ) and the Order Issuing Authority ( OIA ) USCG Air Station Atlantic City , Giannattasio provided the mission overview : An Auxiliary pilot determines via AUXORDERS if an Auxiliary surface vessel will be on patrol in the flight route during a scheduled Maritime Observation Mission ( MOM ) flight . Prior to the flight the pilot and coxswain plan to rendezvous in the vessel ’ s AOR at a specified time and establish radio communications ( COMMS ) at pre-arranged frequency ( s ). If COMMS are established , the pilot can decide to conduct a visual observation of the vessel if both are able to do so safely .
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