Red, White, and BOOM! Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)!
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Majestic Malta:
USNH Sigonella:
At least once!
Don't wait to hydrate!
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
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July 3, 2015
Vol. 32 No. 26
'Outstanding performance' hallmark of C-26 team
Roy Contarino, left, and Bob Parris, part of a team of four contracted maintainers tasked with keeping NAS Sigonella's two C-26 aircraft flying. The duo have been serving in Sigonella side-by-side for the last 20 years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tony D. Curtis/Released) By LT Paul Newell NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - A person who has always wanted to explore Europe might be a bit jealous gazing at the dry erase board hanging in the NAS 2 Air Operations building. Written in red marker, nine countries packed into just 14 days travel are divvied between five pilots and two aircrewmen who flying cargo and personnel in NAS
Sigonella’s two C-26 aircraft. This is the normal pace of operations. Sitting on a couch across from the board, C-26 co-pilot Lt. Brian Sullivan looks up and confirms why it’s okay to be at least a tad envious. “As a single guy, these are a dream set of orders,” says Sullivan, a 29-year-old Long Island native who came to the Operations Department last fall. “I’ve been to 20 countries in the last six months” he says, then starts in on a list of Euro-destinations long enough
to appear as if he’s visited all within the continent. “Turkey, Sweden, Greece, Spain, Norway, Albania, Slovenia, England, Belgium, Scotland, Poland, Ireland …” then suddenly stops. “The travel is great, but the fact of the matter is we couldn’t get the mission done without our maintainers. They’re really the secret behind our success.” Roy Contarino supervises that team of contracted maintainers. For him, measuring success boils down to one thing: keeping both C-26 aircraft flying missions tasked to Sullivan and other members of the crew. Their track record is practically flawless. Contarino can’t remember the last time his shop was unable to repair an aircraft and return it mission-ready in time for the next scheduled assignment. The truly remarkable thing is that Contarino is just one of four responsible for sustaining the readiness of the two aircraft. “We are highly experienced and multi-tasked. We do everything from washing the aircraft, to scheduled inspections, structural repairs, engine repairs, avionics repairs, and administration. We maintain a large inventory of parts in support of our aircraft and we are responsible to maintain all the usual programs required of any maintenance activity like Hazmat, Quality Control, Tool Control, Shipping and Receiving, GSE Maintenance, Tool Calibration and anything else that might come up” said Contarino. This claim is verified by NAS Sigonella Operations Officer, Cmdr. Bryant Medeiros, himself a former squadron maintenance division officer. “I've been in a few squadrons in my Naval Aviation career and these guys are top-notch maintenance professionals,” said Medeiros. “I have no apprehension about climbing into a plane that they have worked on.” The maintainers not only have highly-diversified skill sets, they have over 100 years of cumulative experience. Contarino has been doing the
"C-26" continued on Page 12
U.S. - Italian firefighters: Friendships forged in heat By MC2 Ramon Go NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Many children dream of becoming firefighters, an American symbol of hope and courage. Firefighters aren’t the super heroes you see in cartoons; they are the heroes in real life. The sound of their impending arrival is marked with wailing sirens; engines full of men and women donned in flame retardant coveralls, gloves, boots, helmet and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), ready to fight fires and rescue those in distress. They have a hard job, and when sent into dangerous situations they know the importance of training and teamwork. With that understanding, Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s Fire Department and Catania-Fontanarossa Airport Fire Department conducted an interoperability training and joint exercise at the NAS 2 fire station, from June 23-26. “The training environment was created for scenarios that are similar, if not equal, to an actual catastrophe, and train the emergency responders how to counter the situation,” said Luca Scrofani, assistant chief of operations assigned to the Catania-Fontanarossa Airport. “The simulation included fighting fires against aircraft cargo fire, engine fire, cabin fire, or cockpit fire.” Catania-Fontanarossa’s Fire Department responsibilities include
NAS Sigonella's Fire Department and Catania-Fontanarossa Airport Fire Department fight an aircraft fire during a training exercise at the fire station on NAS 2, June 23-26. The two fire departments train to keep thier skills at the highest level possible. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
responding to fires, accidents, and other incidents where risks are high on the airfield. NAS Sigonella’s responsibilities include similar that of a commercial airline but with an addition of the military-grade aircraft. “There isn’t much difference between the two fire departments except what the military aircraft is carrying, like the type of cargo or armament because there
are different standard of procedures for that,” said Scrofani. “Nonetheless, all fire departments around the world have the same goals in mind and that is to protect life and property.” Catania-Fontanarossa’s Fire Department and NAS Sigonella trained for four days developing a bond and skill that connects the international fire fighters. “It’s very important to have an integrat-
ed training so that we may learn from each other and enhance our firefighting skills together,” said Giuseppe Ricci, NAS Sigonella’s Fire Department station chief. “The training never stops, so that we can keep the skills to do our job safely at the highest level possible. It’s been a pleasure to work with the local fire department and we will continue to support each other any way we can.”