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Dover master sergeant, Seattle native, serves as C-5 flight engineer; participates in historic airlift mission

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Master Sgt. Bradley Bronov, a C-5 Galaxy flight engineer with the 9th Airlift Squadron here, was one of 14 crew members who flew on a mission that was the Air Force's first direct delivery airlift mission through the Arctic Circle from the United States to Afghanistan.

The flight, which took place on June 5 and 6, 2011, was aboard a C-5M Super Galaxy from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The flight was the first time a U.S. Air Force plane flew this northern route from the U.S., over Canada and into the Arctic Circle, then back down through Russian and Kazakhstan airspace to Afghanistan.

U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command officials at Scott AFB, Ill., said the mission was a "proof of concept" flight that will help establish future sustainment operations in Afghanistan. AMC's 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center planners at Scott AFB tasked and built the mission plans for the effort. It is part of TACC's continuing effort to support and control airlift and air refueling missions around the globe.

To make the entire 15-plus hour flight to Afghanistan, the C-5M was refueled by a KC-135R Stratotanker from the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing and Pease Air National Guard Base. The refueling took place over Northern Canada.

Sergeant Bronov discussed his participation in the mission.

"I was proud to be able to help validate a concept that exemplifies the C-5M's capabilities," said Sergeant Bronov, who is a 24-year Air Force veteran and a native of Seattle, Wash. "It's exciting to be on the leading edge of anything, but when you can help the warfighter by cutting a day of transit time from the schedule -- that's very gratifying."

Sergeant Johnson said the mission is a reminder of the improved capabilities in the C-5M.

"I'm impressed by the capabilities the C-5M brings to the table," Sergeant Bronov said. "The C-5 has always been an excellent airlift tool, but it's been hamstrung by 1960s technology. To see its potential fully realized in the C-5M is special. Also, to prove that there is nothing in our Air Force inventory that can do what the C-5M does with this mission, that is a pretty special feeling."

Flight engineers like Sergeant Bronov have to maintain a myriad of skills and abilities with their job, the official Air Force job description for a flight engineer states. The flight engineer is the "systems expert" for the aircraft.

During pre-flight operations, Sergeant Bronov ensures the C-5's operating systems are working correctly and there aren't any non-flyable discrepancies. The pre-flight inspection of a C-5 includes an in-depth external look at the aircraft as well as internal checks, to include flight controls, hydraulics and various other components.

Once the pre-flight is completed, the flight engineer calculates take-off numbers for the pilots and runs a "before take-off" checklist for the pilots. Once it's time for the aircrew to take off on a mission, the flight engineer sets the engine throttles to the proper settings and the plane takes off, the job description shows.

When flying, flight engineers like Sergeant Bronov manage various aircraft systems and components to include fuel, electrics, hydraulics, air conditioning and pressurization of the aircraft, the job description states. They do all these tasks in addition to backing up the pilots on correct information during the mission and they work with the in-flight refueling technician, or boom operator, to off-load fuel during air refueling missions.

A flight engineer also "administers qualification flight to personnel engaged in flight engineer activities within flight test and operations organizations," the job description states. They also direct "standardization of flight engineer performance in conjunction with aircraft performance engineering, engine conditioning and preventive maintenance programs and ensures conformance with prescribed aircrew procedures."

AMC officials said the historic flight was made possible by close diplomatic cooperation and culminates months of operational planning. It further illustrates the military's commitment to finding innovative new ways to operate with increasingly constrained resources. USTRANSCOM planners said this flight is just the beginning of understanding new ways to strengthen the northern corridor.