District 1 Southern Region

Auxiliary Air Station Caldwell

CGAS Atlantic City Tour

On Janaury 17, 2008, several members of AuxAir from around the district flew in to Atlantic City and were given a tour of the Air Station facilities, and their MH-65 helicopters. Also, there was a tour of the Air National Guard facility and their F-16s.

AIRSTA Atlantic City Tour - Group Photo
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DISTRICT AVIATORS TOUR AIR STATION ATLANTIC CITY

Cloudy skies and a chilly, intermittent rain failed to dampen the spirits of First Southern aviators on a recent tour of Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City and nearby New Jersey Air National Guard base. The tour, the latest in a series of events arranged by ADSO-AV(sp) Fred Simmons, Flotilla 10-20, to encourage better working relationships with gold- and silver- side aviators, offered a glimpse into the workings of both the Coast Guard Air Station and the Air Force's 177^th Fighter Wing, the “Jersey Devils”, an F-16 squadron which has seen service in Iraq.

Following a bagel breakfast for attendees, compliments of Pete Lombardo of Flotilla 12-07, the 20 Auxiliary pilots, air crew and observers were introduced to the mission of Air Station Atlantic City by Coast Guard helicopter pilot LTJG Bruce W. Kimmel, Operations and Air Auxiliary Liaison officer for the air station. By virtue of the station's proximity to important “no fly” zones to the south, ASAC aviators regularly fly intercept missions, in addition to regular patrols of coastal areas, to investi gate incursions into these sensitive areas. Focusing on this important function, Kimmel described a typical intercept training mission and outlined how Auxiliary aviators could assist in these exercises. Following this presentation, Kimmel provided a tour of AIRSTA Atlantic City facilities, including an “up close and personal” look at the HH-65 helicopters of the Air Station.

Coast Guard helicopter pilot LTJG Bruce Kimmel, center, carrying his ever-present "fuel", offered D1SR aviatiors an inside look at the operations and aircraft of Air Station Atlantic City, on a recent tour organized by DSO-SP Fred Simmons of Flotilla 10-20. (Photo, Courtesy D. Aldi & T. Devito)
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Following lunch at the nearby FAA cafeteria, the group toured the New Jersey Air National Guard base at Atlantic City, guided by Captain Ernesto “Rico” Bio, nephew of Sal Bio, an Observer with Flotilla 10-20. Captain Bio, a combat-tested F-16 pilot, offered a detailed look at the day-to-day duties of an Air Force fighter pilot, demonstrating the individual equipment and uniforms each pilot wears, and giving each member a close-up look into the cockpit of an F-16.

New Jersey Air National Guard Captain Bio at the controls of an F-16 Fighting Falcon
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