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With a large plane, such as the D-Day Doll, there are just too many details that need to be tended to, long before the pilot arrives. Proper inspection, loading and maneuvering the plane, on the ground, are all essential for a safe and trouble free flight. And of course, there is the paper work! |
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Crew Chief & Load Master Ground School
The C-53D Crew Chief and Load Master ground school is held at the Commemorative Air Force - Inland Empire Wing (CAF-IEW) hangar and is conducted by qualified Colonels of the CAF-IEW. At ground school I learned many things like the importance of making yourself visible, to the pilots, of a large tail dragger, such as the C-53, and other important aspects of marshalling.
Ground school covered many of the pre-flight inspections, performed by the crew chief, such as brake inspection, fuel and oil levels, draining water from fuel tanks and various other routine checks and inspections. Fire safety was also taught and we learned how to handle fires during engine start up, as well as brake fires and oil fires. Another thing I learned in the ground school was hooking up the tow bar to the tug and the C-53. These are mostly tasks of the Crew Chief, a position I hope to qualify for in the future.
Another area that was covered, during the ground school, was the duties of the Load Master, primarily the paper work that has to be in filled out and accounted for when passengers are taken up in the C-53. This is an area that I can help with and doing so frees up others to do the things I am not qualified to do yet. The CAF-IEW’s C-53D, The D-Day Doll, travels to many air shows every year and the wing also sells rides on her so there is always lots of paper work that needs attention.
I attended this same class last year, but I was pretty new to the wing and still getting familiar with the plane. This year I leaned much more and I will next year and years to follow.
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