During two aircraft crash exercises on July 31 and August 3, members of the 812th Civil Engineer Squadron teamed with the Emerging Technologies Combined Test Force (ETCTF) to “increase their emergency response capabilities” using small UAS.

Through the exercise scenario, the Edwards Fire Department at Edwards Air Force Base in California, and the 812th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight were able to respond to a simulated crashed B-52 Stratofortress on Rogers Dry Lake.

The exercise allowed responders to approach an actual dismantled B-52 on the lakebed, and the B-52 was also used as an “aerial photo calibration target and later a radar target.”

Upon being the first to arrive on the scene, the fire department used firefighting tactics to extinguish the simulated fire and rescue aircraft crew members. 

While these initial firefighting operations were taking place, the ETCTF launched the UAS, and it provided a live video feed, which in turn provided additional situational awareness for the incident commander. The UAS also helped accelerate the search for aircraft victims and explosive hazards.

EOD members knew the approximate location of the aircraft’s flares when they arrived on the scene, allowing them to “render safe the aircraft faster than typical.”

Overall, the UAS was very helpful according to Lt. Col. Gregory Hammond, 812th CES commander, who deemed the exercise successful.

“The time savings provided by the sUAS would have enabled faster sortie generation if the crash had occurred on the active airfield,” Hammond says.

“Moreover, during the response it supported a safer situational awareness.”

The exercise allowed all parties involved to practice various skills. Firefighters got the opportunity to practice a lakebed response that allowed them to “set up on a visibly damaged aircraft,” while EOD technicians got the chance to improve their skills in a remote environment. 

For Matt Guggemos, Edwards Fire Dept. assistant chief, he believes that the future is bright for small UAS.

“I believe sUASs will be the future of emergency response. It was a great experience to be at the forefront of this technology,” Guggemos says.