Predators of the Mountains

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Airman 1st Class Troy Spence, 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron crew chief, looks over technical orders on his laptop while performing maintenance on a MQ-1 Predator in Afghanistan. The unit’s primary role is to launch and recover Predators supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Airman Spence is deployed from the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester)

Predator of the mountains

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - An MQ-1 Predator returns from an Operation Enduring Freedom mission here. The Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle primarily used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, but has the capability to strike when needed. (U.S. Air Force by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester)

Predators of the Mountains

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Airman 1st Class Troy Spence, 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron crew chief, inspects a MQ-1 Predator during routine maintenance in Afghanistan. The unit’s primary role is to launch and recover Predators supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Airman Spence is deployed from the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester)

Predators of the Mountains

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Airman 1st Class Justin Hammett, 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron communications technician, climbs up to inspect the communications tower for the MQ-1 Predator. The unit’s primary role is to launch and recover Predators supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Airman Hammett is deployed from the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester)

Predators of the Mountains

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Maj. Lichen Pursley, 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron commander, performs a pre-flight inspection on an MQ-1 Predator before a combat mission in Afghanistan. The unit’s primary role is to launch and recover Predators supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Demetrius Lester)

Predators of the Mountains

Published April 24, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. James Law
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- In an environment where the enemy conceals themselves among civilians and mountainous terrain, the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron provides the warfighter real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data to combat the enemy.

The weapon of choice: MQ-1 Predator.

The unit performs this operation jointly with Airmen at Creech Air Force Base, Nev.

"We are called an LRE, or launch and recovery element, and the (personnel) back in the states are the MCE, or the mission control element," said Maj. Lichen Pursley, 62nd ERS commander.

Major Pursley explained this meant the 62nd ERS is responsible for piloting the unmanned aerial vehicles during takeoff and landing on the flightline in Afghanistan. The pilots and sensor operators at Creech remotely take control of the aircraft once it has reached altitude.

"It takes us about 45 minutes to get to altitude," said Major Pursley. "During that time, instead of just looking off into space, we are working with the Joint Defense Operation Center here to provide base defense."

Major Pursley explained the majority of the work done for the JDOC is performing route scans. The data provides increased reliability of intelligence and real-time definition of the surrounding area.

The 62nd also provides over watch for the JDOC when they are performing missions in the local areas. Major Pursley said they recently gathered ISR on an area where a large cache of rockets were hidden and watched as a team raided the location and removed the ordnance.

"We can provide raid support where we are talking to the guys on the ground and telling them, 'Hey, a light just came on, they might hear you coming' or 'A squirtter just left the building' and tell them which direction he is heading," said Major Pursley.

In addition to providing overhead ISR, the Predator carries laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and can provide close air support when needed.

The Airmen keeping these aircraft ready for whatever objective they are tasked with are the total force maintainers deployed from Creech.

"These aircraft are very reliable; a lot of our maintenance is schedule driven," said Maj. James Hood, 62nd ERS maintenance officer-in-charge.

Airman 1st Class Troy Spence, 62nd ERS crew chief, explained the bulk of maintenance performed is routine engine tune-ups, overhauls and replacements.

"We do a 360-hour and 720-hour inspection," said Airman Spence. "That is where we'll pull apart the motor, clean it and replace a few parts."

Airman Spence explained the life of the motors on the Predator is 1,080 hours.

"At 1,080 (hours) we send it back; those engines are no good to us," said Airman Spence.

Over the last four months, the ERS flew more than 460 combat missions, totaling over 8,500 flying hours, providing commanders and planners real-time "eyes-in-the-sky" information.

Whether the Predator is following an operation or high-value target for a long period of time or executing a strike, the 62nd ERS Airmen provide a force-multiplying capability to ground forces engaged in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.