| On Wednesday night, members from Arcadia, as well as several neighboring companies, were given the unique opportunity to tour some of the facilities at the Martin State Airport in Middle River, Baltimore County. The tour, consisting of approximately 30 members from four fire companies, lasted just under 3 hours and encompassed both the Fire Rescue station on the Maryland National Guard Base as well as the Maryland State Police- Baltimore Section, home of Trooper 1.
Members started their tour at the Fire Rescue Station on base. The tour was led by one of the on-duty Firefighters at the station. The station is staffed from 5 to 7 firefighters, depending on activities occurring on the base. The members were given an in-depth overview of the various pieces of response equipment in the station, including three crash-rescue vehicles, a rescue squad, engine, tanker, two command trailers, and two support vehicles. The members were also shown one of the training props at the station, a mock cockpit from the Warthog A-10 air-frame. The staff of the Maryland Air National Guard Fire Rescue station are required to extricate a pilot from the cockpit in under one minute from the time they arrive on the scene of an aircraft crash. Because of this, the staff members train twice a month on the simulator. Members were then shown the inside quarters of the station, including the kitchen, rec areas, offices, and the dispatch and communications center for the station. The staff even demonstrated a simulated call as if the station were being alerted to respond. The tour concluded with a brief question-and-answer session. Members then proceeded off the base and to the Maryland State Police- Baltimore Section facility.
On arrival at the MSP Section, members were met by troopers with the Maryland State Police Aviation Command for a brief overview of the Baltimore Section, as well as the air-frames at the facility and the facilities capabilities. Three troopers led the tour, two were flight medics and the third was one of two remaining pilots who are sworn troopers. The troopers reviewed the Dauphin air frame, currently being flown as Trooper 1, as well as the AW-139. the AW-139 is the new, state-of-the-art air frame that the MSPAC has taken delivery of. There are currently 3 sections flying the new air frame, with the remaining four sections slated for several months of training to occur in the upcoming 1-2 years. The pilot guiding the tour stated "this is like going from a '57 chevy to a 2014 Mercedes Benz." After reviewing the air frames, Corporal Heins provided an overview of aircraft safety and landing zone procedures, as well as a tour of the crew facilities at the section. The Baltimore Section is responsible for all of the air frame maintenance, and housed several air frames in various state of repair and upkeep. The troopers explained that, in order to maintain a fleet of 7 air frames, 10 air frames are required. They also detailed the extensive maintenance requirements that the frames are subjected to.
Overall, the members had an excellent experience touring both facilities. A lot was learned on the tours and members walked away with knowledge to improve understanding and operations involving a variety of Fire/Rescue and Medevac missions. |
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