Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      49th Aircraft Maintenance squadron Airmen hoist an engine cover panel onto an MQ-9 at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., May 4, 2017. Holloman AFB conducted surge operations from May 1 to May 5, ramping up operations to accurately measure the full capability of its Airmen and equipment.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Chase Cannon)Holloman Surges RPA operations
                        
                        
                        Airmen from the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hoist an engine cover panel onto an MQ-9 Reaper at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., May 4, 2017. Holloman AFB conducted surge operations from May 1-5, ramping up operations to accurately measure the full capability of its Airmen and equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Chase Cannon)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Holloman surges RPA operationsPublished May 10, 2017
                    
                    By Senior Airman Chase Cannon
                    
                    
                    49th Wing Public Affairs
            **HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS)  --**The 49th Wing’s remotely piloted aircraft squadrons at Holloman Air Force Base completed a five-day surge May 5, 2017, to measure the full capabilities of the Airmen and civilians involved in the RPA mission.The 6th, 9th and 29th Attack Squadrons completed 45 MQ-9 Reaper sorties and totaled more than 465 flight hours during the week, allowing RPA student pilots, sensor operators, and maintainers to discover and record limitations.“While we are conducting surge operations you can see a flurry of activity that is happening across the base, and that is when we realize how integral of a team we are,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Monroe, the 9th Attack Squadron commander. “There are a number of things happening on the flight line and in the flying squadrons; you can even see the broader impact around Holloman with our various mission support elements who are enabling pilots, sensor operators and maintainers to launch all of these aircraft.” Surge week also provides commanders with the opportunity to exercise the system to accurately measure the proficiency, accuracy and competency of the squadrons.“We continue to see that what we do here is not simple,” Monroe said. “It is not something you can do by yourself, it takes a very well built and well trained team to accomplish the mission.” Personnel supporting surge operations included air traffic controllers, aircraft maintainers, schedulers, flight safety, fuels and munitions specialists, and range control operators who worked long hours to keep pace with the RPA mission. Sometimes shifts are utilized to keep the aircraft in working order."A typical duty day on swing shift is waiting for the MQ-9 to land so that we can get control of the Ground Control System and aircraft, that's when the real hard work starts, getting your fingers dirty, that kind of stuff goes on,” said Airman 1st Class Bryton Pollock, a 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron communications systems technician. “Any kind of problems the plane has, we get told about it. We go out and figure out how to fix it. We get the parts and the tools we need and we put in the man hours to fix whatever problem it has."Aircraft maintenance was critical during the surge in operations, when both aircraft and simulators were utilized to the maximum extent possible for student training.“Our simulators are operating on the order of 18 hours a day or more,” Monroe said. “Right now we are launching aircraft that will stay airborne for 10, 11 or 12 hours, and it takes a very fine-tuned sequence and schedule in order to execute launching those operations.” A key component to the Holloman team are instructor pilots who help students to develop skills that will prepare them for future roles of providing combatant commanders with crucial situational awareness and strike capabilities.“You develop a much deeper appreciation for how hard everyone is working on the flight line every single day,” Monroe said. “From maintenance personnel, the aviators that are operating the aircraft and all of our various mission support partners that help us to accomplish our mission. You develop an appreciation for just how great of a team we are for producing students and airpower capabilities here.”MQ-9 



Reaper 



ISR 



RPA 



ACC 



49th AMXS 



49th Wing 



surge operations 



9th Attack Squadron 



Holloman AFB Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil