How NATO firefighters practice putting out burning fighter jets

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How NATO firefighters practice putting out burning fighter jets
NATO Air Force firefighter F-15 simulator
  • Firefighters from several NATO countries gathered at Ramstein Air Base in Germany this month to practice putting out a fire on a fighter jet.
  • The training used Ramstein's new F-15 Mobile Aircraft Fire Training asset, a mock-up aircraft that's been in development since 2018.
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RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - The 435th Construction and Training Squadron hosted the NATO Firefighter Fundamentals Course March 9-13 to train for aircraft mishaps and pilot extraction scenarios.

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Twenty-two NATO firefighters from Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania and the Czech Republic were the first to train on Ramstein's new F-15 Mobile Aircraft Fire Training asset, a mock-up aircraft in development since 2018. This capability allowed them to share new knowledge with their respective countries' military forces.

"We have students from all of the world coming to train," said Staff Sgt. Robert Wellborn, 435th CTS fire rescue and contingency training instructor. "A lot of them have these aircraft at their base. Some might not, but they get the opportunity to train before they (are reassigned) to another base with the aircraft."

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Firefighters trained for multiple aircraft crash scenarios during the week. They also learned about potential hazards on F-15 and C-130 aircraft.

Firefighters trained for multiple aircraft crash scenarios during the week. They also learned about potential hazards on F-15 and C-130 aircraft.

"It's a little difficult in some respects with the language barrier," Welborn said, "but every country has someone that speaks English to translate and make it work."

"It's a little difficult in some respects with the language barrier," Welborn said, "but every country has someone that speaks English to translate and make it work."

The NATO Firefighter Fundamentals Course is held three to four times per year. Welborn hopes assets like the F-15 MAFT will continue to attract more NATO countries in the future to further strengthen partnerships.

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One of the key advantages of the MAFT asset is its mobility, said Tech. Sgt. Frank Butler, 435th CTS fire rescue and contingency training noncommissioned officer in charge.

One of the key advantages of the MAFT asset is its mobility, said Tech. Sgt. Frank Butler, 435th CTS fire rescue and contingency training noncommissioned officer in charge.

Unlike the fixed location of the C-130 mockup fire trainer near the flight line, airmen can transport the MAFT asset to multiple locations using a trailer. This allows the 435th CTS to conduct more training opportunities in the future.

Unlike the fixed location of the C-130 mockup fire trainer near the flight line, airmen can transport the MAFT asset to multiple locations using a trailer. This allows the 435th CTS to conduct more training opportunities in the future.

The F-15 MAFT asset will be used for future training such as US European Command, NATO and partnered-nation exercises.

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