Aircrew Safety Award of Distinction

Combat Edge, Dec, 2004

On the afternoon of June 9, the crew of Sentry 05 plus one observer had an uneventful takeoff from Cold Lake Canadian Forces Base (CFB). Sentry 05 was cleared to the tactical frequency by a student engineer and directed to the orbit. The mission crew began to power up aircraft mission systems, but were unable to because of a computer malfunction. Sentry 05 continued to a maintenance orbit to attempt troubleshooting and burn down fuel for an eventual return to base. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, while established in the orbit at 240 knots indicated air speed, the flight crew heard a loud pop in the pilot's overhead panel and noticed severe electrical arcing, smoke, flames and burning debris falling from the panel. The aircraft commander immediately made a public address announcement directing the crew to get on 100 percent oxygen and called for the FIRE, SMOKE, or FUMES, AIRCRAFT INTERIOR checklist. Due to the location of the fire, the instructor flight engineer was in the best position to combat the fire and prepared the fire extinguisher for use if needed. The student flight engineer continued with the checklist while the mission crew reported all personnel on oxygen. The designated mission crew fire fighters were ready to assist if the fire continued, while the passenger monitor directed the passenger to get on oxygen and strap in. The copilot called the tactical agency to declare an emergency as the navigator computed a direct course to Cold Lake CFB for an emergency recovery. The fire continued to burn for approximately 7 seconds prior to the circuit protection devices removing power. After the appropriate checklist was completed and the flight crew verified that the fire was out, the fuel dump checklist was accomplished. By the time the fuel dump checklist was complete, Sentry 05 was passing 15,000 feet mean sea level, approximately 50 nautical miles from the airfield. With the gear down and all safe indications, Sentry 05 continued the approach with normal configurations to an uneventful full stop. The immediate and correct actions of the entire crew resulted in the safe recovery of a valuable, limited density, high demand asset and 29 crew members.

Maj John Schatz, Maj Joel LaPlante, 1Lt Eric Steele, 1Lt Chris Bray, SSgt Christian Williams, TSgt Bob Davis, Maj Samantha Helwig, Capt Michael Boynton, Capt Canyon Knop, 1Lt Jeffrey Dale, 1Lt Curtis Knighten, 1Lt Shaun Lloyd, Capt Kirk Hansen, 1Lt Michael Sward, TSgt Kelly Clark, Capt Timothy Wilcox, Capt Jennifer Kyseth, Capt John Chambers, Capt Sean Bruce, SSgt Vincent Wittig, SrA David Ebert, SSgt Kristin Odekirk, SrA Edgardo Montoya, SrA Peter Cox, TSgt Philip Barton, SSgt Michael Randazzo, SrA S. P. Quinn, SrA Adam Satnes, SrA Carlos Hernandez, 960th Airborne Air Control Sqdn., 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma