SWAT, getting down to business

Published Aug. 6, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Nicole Leidholm
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- When most people hear SWAT they think of elite police force units donning fancy tactical gear.

When everything has been used down to the last resort, they get called in to neutralize the threat. There may be a tense, hostile standoff that requires a specialized team of individuals who are capable of thinking outside the box to get the mission done.

But to the 60th Aerial Port Squadron fleet services, SWAT means something completely different. Sewage, water and trash. These four words best describe the members of fleet services.

The members of fleet services are the ones who suck the waste out of the lavatories in aircraft so that passengers and aircrew can fly in comfort. They are one of only two Air Force bases where active duty still handles the job and it's not contracted out.

"We service lavatories with 'blue juice,' take out trash and make the bathroom look clean," said Airman 1st Class Michael Echavarria, 60th APS fleet services. "We suck out (the waste) so passengers can use the lavatories on the flights. If not for us, passengers couldn't use the latrine. No one would want to fly if the latrine is dirty."

Sucking out all that waste is definitely a dirty job, Echavarria said.

"In the C-5 (galaxies), it comes gushing out," Echavarria said."The worst part is not knowing if the (waste) is ready to come out."

"It was my first day here, first call of the day," he said. "We were to service a KC-10 Extender Z lav--an attached bathroom by the loading door--it needs a long pipe to service it. There was a crack in the pipe, (waste) got everywhere. I thought to myself, 'what did I get myself into?'"

The 60th APS services about 20 aircraft a day, although weekends are their busiest. The aircrew must suck out the old "blue juice" and replace it with fresh liquid. A KC-10 takes about five gallons of liquid, where a C-17 Globemaster III takes between 8 and 12 gallons. The waste goes to a dump station where it goes down the required sewer. The crew must also do an operational check on the toilet to make sure it works, wipe down the latrine and take out the trash. The 60th APS services all three airframes at Travis as well as any transient planes, commercial planes and distinguished visitor planes.

After they have serviced an aircraft that day, they cannot do anything else, like handle potable water, said Master Sgt. Daniel Bean, 60th APS fleet services.

We wear proper protective gear because we don't want diseases other people may have, Echavarria said.

To stay clean, he sanitizes all his gear, wears clean gloves and keeps the blue suit on.

Aerial Port members wear low profile face shields, latex gloves and blue suits to protect themselves from getting waste on them. All the gear has to stay in a separate building because it is a bio-hazard.

"If we get it spilt on us we have to go to the hospital to get checked out," Bean said.

Even with the hazards, Echavarria says he likes his job.

"This job makes you a lot more humble as a person," he said.