Buckley receives MAFT

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kathrine McDowell
  • 460 Space Wing Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  The Air Force Space Command recently funded the leasing of a mobile aircraft fire trainer, making training with actual fires possible. With the new MAFT, Buckley and F.E. Warren AFB will share the trainer to meet Air Force requirements of two aircraft live-fire training exercises a year. Previously, both bases had to send their fire departments elsewhere for training and certification.

Buckley firefighters and members of Sable Altura Fire Rescue, Bennett Fire Protection District along with interns from the Community College of Aurora, came
together for live-fire training for the first time at Buckley May 30 thanks to the new trainer.
 
"Normally we would have to go to other bases to try to get that training. Last year, we were only able to do one of two required live fire burns because we had no other place to go," said Brian Poe, Buckley Fire Department assistant chief.

Local fire departments were invited to use the MAFT to train on different aircraft fire scenarios.

"We are trying to help the local community with their yearly requirements," said Dennis Hoke, Buckley Fire Department fire chief. "Some of the departments that will come out here are part of the Front Range Airport which is general aviation and limited commercial aviation."

Civilian fire departments are required to train on one aircraft live fire a year to maintain certification for the Federal Aviation Administration. Coming to Buckley AFB to use the MAFT would not only help local departments to save money but also give them exposure to a different sized aircraft.

According to Earl Cumley, Bennett Fire Protection District fire chief, training at Denver International Airport allowed them to practice live fires on large aircraft. Training on the MAFT allowed them to learn new tactics because of its smaller size.







 

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