Frost Times

All done with the Simulators. Over the past two weeks I have had twelve simulators in the Boom Operator Pod Personnel Trainer (BOPPT). Each Boppt consisted of a 30 min pre-brief on which aircraft I would be refueling during the mission, some of the unique features of the aircraft. On Each mission we are challenged with a different malfunction, such as the boom failing to unlatch and lower or the controls going bad, or all the gauges going bad….each malfunction has a solution, some easier than others, and we are tasked to study these solutions and during the boppt be able to identify the problem and apply the solution. The mission begins after the pre-brief and lasts for an hour. I lay in the boom pod and look out the window to a big TV screen that looks like a big video game. I talk to the receiver pilot who is an instructor outside the simulator and we go through all the steps and actions that would actually be happening up in the air. Today I finished with my last Boppt and everything went very well, so now that concludes my practice missions and simulators. Starting next week on Monday I head to the flight line to meet my Air Force Flight Instructor who will be flying with me for the next two months. 

Love to all,

Dan