Originally created Thursday, September 14, 2006
Florida bombing range helps pilots hone skills
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Navy aircrews drop more than 10,000 bombs at the Pinecastle site each year including several hundred which are live. ''We have several different target scenarios set up at Pinecastle to help the pilots hone their skills. We've completely renovated the area within the past couple years to help them become better prepared to head to the war zone,'' said Pinecastle Director of Operations John Childers. ''In the past, we only had one target in our live area, now we have 38. We are also in process of building our own 'urban city' constructed to look like Baghdad, Iraq. This area is approximately 14 acres (800-foot diameter circle) and should be completed later this year. It even has it's own clock tower.''
Dee Canada, an electronics technician with Arcata Associates, communicates with a pilot coming in for a bombing run during training at the Pinecastle Range Complex. Photo by Chris Townsend
The range complex falls under the operational and administrative control of the Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility Jax who coordinates the training of the squadrons using the complex. ''We get aircraft from all over the east coast. We recently had a couple F-18's from Oceana, Va. conduct long-range strikes and practice their air-to-air refueling since we don't have a runway here,'' said Childers.
Pilots are allowed to perform day and night training missions, however no live drops are permitted past sunset as part of the safety precautions. ''We have a small range here and it can become very hazardous so we follow extremely strict guidelines. Pilots are required to fly at specific altitudes based on the types of weapons they are using and we monitor all missions through surveillance cameras, audio and voice contact through our operations center,'' continued Childers.
These old vehicles and aircraft parts are brought in to the Pinecastle Range Complex through the Navy's Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office to be used as targets for bombing practice at the range. Before the vehicles can be used, they must be stripped of all glass and all fluids and hazardous materials are removed. Once they are destroyed, all parts of the vehicles are recycled. Photo by Kaylee LaRocque
This permit was renewed in 2002 and allows the Navy to use the range until 2022. The Rodman Range is actually owned by the Navy and covers about 2,800 acres. The Lake George Range is a 14-square-mile area where pilots conduct mining exercises and conventional bombing over the water.
To maintain the three sites, the Navy has contracted Northrup Grumman as a primary contractor. Arcata Associates, another contractor, oversees and maintains the electronic and communications equipment and Chugach Associates handles all the administrative and supply needs for the range. The Navy employs three full-time civilians to oversee all aspects of the three ranges.
Maintaining the ranges is a huge task. ''Every time we have a large scale carrier exercise, we have to go in and clean up the range and replace our targets. We recycle all range residue. All the range residue is managed from cradle to grave,'' said Unexploded Ordnance Quality Assurance Specialist Chris Townsend. ''We requisition all our range targets through the Defense Reutilization Marketing Office (DRMO). They can include anything from old fire trucks to aircraft to Army tanks. Once the targets are no longer useable, they are inert certified and picked up by a recycling company for scrap metal. All proceeds from the sale of the scrap is place back into the contract or forwarded to the NAS Jax Morale, Welfare and Recreation fund. We also recycle all the tires and the practice inert filled ordnance. Last year, we recycled 16,000 tons of scrap metal. We maintain an environmentally friendly range.''
Unexploded Ordnance Quality Assurance Specialist Chris Townsend explains how practice bombs cases are opened and the concrete is removed before being recycled. Photo by Kaylee LaRocque
The Pinecastle Range gets it's name not because of all the pine trees in the area but because of where it was once located. ''Many years ago, there was a Navy bombing range just south of Orlando, near a town called Pinecastle. In 1950, the Army relinquished control of the area and the Navy took it over and moved it here. The name just stuck with it,'' said Childers.
The area is also rich in wildlife, but according to Childers, he can't remember any animals being killed during a bombing exercise since he began working here 31 years ago. ''We have a lot of deer, black bears, birds, gopher tortoises, etc. out here. They just seem to know when to stay away and come back when it's quiet,'' he added.
The Pinecastle Range Complex is normally available for training Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Weekends may also be scheduled for special training events.
Although it's a small range, the Pinecastle Range Complex will continue to play an important role in our Navy's state of readiness by allowing pilots to practice their air stop delivery skills in realistic scenarios.
''We strive to provide the aircrews with a challenging and safe environment during their training missions. We really take pride in what we accomplish each and every day here,'' said Childers.
