Members from the Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas wings and Southwest Region staff participated this month in the region’s first train-the-trainer course for AERONet, an advanced U.S. Air Force communications system that connects ground teams, aircraft, and command posts during emergency services missions.
The Air Force launched AERONet, short for Airborne Extensible Relay Over-Horizon Network, in August 2020. The initiative began in the Arizona Wing using a handheld camera. It now involves forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras mounted on CAP aircraft, similar to the systems found on police helicopters, and has been used in military and homeland security missions.
Nine members from the New Mexico Wing, two from the Texas Wing and Southwest Region staff, one from the Arizona Wing, and three from CAP-USAF, participated in the training, designed to enhance their understanding of AERONet’s video, voice, chat, and position data capabilities.
The system is able to deliver critical, real-time information to emergency responders, offering an exact view allowing both aircraft and ground teams to improve decision-making in emergency situations.
In the words of Maj. Chris Dusard, Southwest Region AERONet technician, “Your ground team can watch drone video, your command post can see the FLIR imagery from the aircraft, and the aircraft can see what the ground team can see from their camera.”
They also learned how to link AERONet to external partners, such as emergency operations and regional response coordination centers, situation rooms, and other emergency coordination facilities.
“AERONet has the attention of CAP-USAF up through our commander, and I’m proud that the Southwest Region is leading the way in innovation,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Tim Brown, CAP-USAF Detachment 6 commander. The training at Kirtland “opened my eyes to this resource,” he added.
“Capabilities like AERONet allow CAP to integrate more closely with other government agencies. I think this is just the start,” Brown said._____Capt. Mark Chappell Disaster Relief Officer Southwest Region Director of Emergency Services New Mexico Wing
