Navy P-3 transits Lajes

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  A Navy P-3 Orion and its crew stopped at Lajes for a "gas-n-go" May 3, 2011, on their way to Naval Station Rota, Spain.

The P-3, assigned to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two, commonly referred to as VQ-2, was coming from Curaçao, an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast, when it transited Lajes.

Lajes Airmen marshaled and refueled the Navy aircraft, which helps deliver critical electronic combat information to U.S. forces, during its short stay.

Staff Sgts. John Coleman and Chance Kimpton, 65th Operations Support Squadron, provided transient alert support for the aircraft.

"It's pretty cool working with a different military service," said Sergeant Coleman, a traditional C-130 crew chief.

"Once we received a call about an inbound aircraft, we would coordinate with the command post, to see if they had the flight plan," Sergeant Coleman said. "Once we do that, we would call the tower for access before receiving the aircraft."

According to the transient alert Airman, working with the Navy P-3 is just like working with any medium military aircraft. "P-3s are pretty much self-sufficient," he added. "This aircraft is considered to be a medium one, so they didn't require aerospace ground equipment, such as stands and a power cart, like other bigger aircraft. When the crew got off the aircraft, we asked them what support they needed, and today, they are simply doing a 'gas-n-go.'"

As part of our job here at Lajes, we provide "follow me" service for the aircraft, said Sergeant Coleman. "The aircraft followed us to the parking spot, and we put chalk on it."
In no time the fuels section was informed about the approximate gallons of fuel needed by the P-3, and the team was on its way to the flightline from the 65th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

While waiting for the aircraft to refuel, some of the crewmembers commented on the services provided by Lajes.

"It's always good service every time we stop here," said one of the P-3 crew. "We've stopped through here a few times, and everybody enjoys sitting up and watching the whole island when we come in for landing. It's a beautiful place."

According to the crew, the service they receive at Lajes is exceptional. Every member of Team Lajes they have come across as always been helpful.

"We are the mission of the base," said Sergeant Coleman. "Without us they might not be able to continue or complete their mission."

The 65th Air Base Wing and Lajes Field is the U.S. Air Force's en-route, expeditionary-focused, combat support organization for aircraft and crew members traveling across the Atlantic.