JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Imagine going to work every day knowing you will be working on different types of aircraft from around the world, used to transport world leaders. Your team will be the first sight distinguished visitor aircrews encounter upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews. Your job is to ensure these aircraft are safely transitioned from the taxiway to parking spots, parked, loaded with fuel, and repositioned for departure all the while the eyes of the world are watching. This is exactly what the men and women of 89th Maintenance Group's Transient Alert Team do day in and day out, rain or shine, around the clock.
The TA is responsible for safely marshalling, parking and servicing all aircraft arriving at Andrews which are not permanently stationed here. Their mission and standards they adhere to are essential elements to a visiting dignitary's positive first impressions of our nation's capital.
"We are the first people to greet the distinguished visitors' aircraft and their first impression directly reflects upon the 89th Airlift Wing and Joint Base Andrews and as a whole," said Jim Buoy of DynCorp International's Transient Alert Supervisor for the 89 MXG.
The TA team is also a major player in the planning and execution of events such as the Joint Service Open House and the Nuclear Security Summit.
This past JSOH, TA was responsible for positioning 86 aircraft displays along with the launch and recovery of 39 demonstration aircraft. All safely accomplished with thousands of spectators sharing the ramp. In addition, NSS, held this past April, brought in 35 aircraft carrying 27 heads of state.
JSOH and NSS are but a fraction of what TA is capable of handling. In Fiscal Year 2009, they had over 5,000 aircraft including foreign heads of state, medical evacuations and presidential support missions. These missions are successful because of the pre-planning and experienced staff.
"We are a staff of civilian contractors, most of who are prior military and or have worked with the 89 AW for many years" Mr. Buoy said. "It is our job to fit the pieces in the puzzle and coordinate with other organizations on base to make this a seamless process."
The staff is also familiar with the standard of perfection their job requires.
At most bases, it seldom matters how aircraft are positioned on the ramp. At Andrews, there is an increased level of attention to detail to include things like oil stains on the ramp, scuff marks on the parking chocks and smears on canopies. The staff works hard to ensure every detail is perfected, said Lt. Col. Ronnie Doud, deputy commander of the 89th MXG.
"We are probably the most photographed flight line in the Air Force whether it is the president boarding Air Force One, arriving heads of state, or our wounded brothers and sisters returning from overseas. With this honor comes tremendous responsibility," Colonel Doud said. "Our Transient Alert Team never fails to rise to occasion."
Even with the planning, expert staff and high standards, the job poses some challenges.
Safety, weather, the amount of aircraft on the runway and construction are all elements that can make TA's job more difficult. Also, because their specialty deals with foreign dignitaries, a difference in language and dialect is very prominent when communicating with other countries.
Despite the challenges, TA works around the clock to maintain positive relationships with those who fly into Andrews.
"Around here, there is no saying 'we can't do it'," Mr. Buoy said.