Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Bob Barko | A piece of water-sensitive paper used during a field exercise designed to measure the effectiveness of an aerial spray application by a C-130H Hercules tactical cargo aircraft sits on the flightline here, May 6, 2021. The specially-treated paper changes color when hit with droplets of water sprayed from the C-130’s modular aerial spray system. The exercise was part of the Aerial Spray Application Course, held May 3-6, 2021, at YARS for a group of more than 20 pest management specialists from across the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.) see less
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YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, OHIO, UNITED STATES
A team of medical entomologists assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing’s 757th Airlift Squadron hosted a group of more than 20 pest management specialists from across the Department of Defense at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio for the Aerial Spray Application Course, May 3-6, 2021.
Coursework included classroom briefings covering a variety of subjects related to aerial spray application as well as an orientation flight aboard a C-130H Hercules tactical cargo aircraft modified to carry a Modular Aerial Spray System. A field exercise using water-sensitive paper designed to measure the effectiveness of an aerial spray application by a MASS-equipped C-130H Hercules aircraft spraying water was conducted on the last day of the course.
Lead course facilitator, 757th Airlift Squadron Chief Entomologist Lt. Col. Karl Haagsma, said that upon completion of the course, participants are certified to coordinate aerial spray applications of insecticides or herbicides at their respective military installations across the country.
Haagsma also noted that with years of field experience in aerial spray application, the 910th’s team of entomologists are professionally qualified to conduct the DoD Aerial Spray Application Course.
The 910th is home to the DoD’s only large-area fixed-wing aerial spray capability to control disease-carrying insects, pest insects and undesirable vegetation and disperse oil spills in large bodies of water on DoD installations, in combat areas or in response to disasters and emergencies as declared by the president of the United States.
