The US Air Force F-35 Joint Program Office recently hosted the first global Damaged or Disabled Aircraft Accident Recovery (CDDAR) course at Volk Field.

From September 8-14, 2024, more than 100 experienced recovery personnel from around the world, including representatives from the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Lockheed Martin, along with personnel from five international partner countries in the F-35 program, took part at the first Team Leader Course for Damaged or Disabled Aircraft Accident Recovery (CDDAR) at Volk FieldWisconsin.

According to Dan Santos, depot and heavy maintenance manager at the F-35 JPO, this course is critical to building strong partnerships within the F-35 enterprise given the joint cooperation requirements that arose during recent recovery efforts. the aircraft. In the past incidents, different recovery procedures between international and inter-service teams emphasized in a public statement the need for a more unified training approach across the global F-35 community.

Safety is paramount in CDDAR operations. Our primary objective is to ensure safety, followed by minimizing damage to the aircraft. Rapid and effective recovery efforts are critical to maintaining the readiness and capabilities of the F-35 fleet.

Volk Field, renowned for its CDDAR training program, was the ideal host for this event. The Wisconsin site has maintained a rigorous, volunteer-run CDDAR training program for over a decade, providing realistic, hands-on training with various aircraft to both military and civilian personnel. The expertise of Air National Guard instructors, who conduct CDDAR courses twice a year, provide participants with immersive experience in aircraft recovery techniques, including situations involving complex and challenging accident scenarios.

Advanced training techniques and real-world applications

The recent CDDAR training used a diverse fleet of rescue aircraft, including a C-130, an F-16A, an A-6, and a CH-53 helicopterwhich allowed teams to practice established recovery techniques as well as new procedures specific to the F-35. This unique configuration provided the training course with a well-rounded curriculum, combining conventional recovery exercises with the adaptations required by the advanced features of the F-35.

Senior Master Sgt. Jordan Jensen, transit alert supervisor and CDDAR site manager at Volk Field, emphasized the flexibility and adaptability essential to the “Advanced Team Leader Course.”

We structured the course to reflect the real unpredictability of aircraft recovery scenarios. Instead of following a rigid, step-by-step protocol, we train students to think critically, adapt to unexpected challenges, and come up with creative solutions.

This departure from conventional training methods encourages participants to rely on their experience and teamwork rather than a set scenario that closely mirrors the conditions they would face in a real aircraft recovery situation.

Jensen added that while basic training from institutions like the Air Education and Training Command provides essential basic skills, the realities of disaster recovery require personnel to exercise their specialized skills with greater flexibility.

Real-life recovery operations rarely go exactly as planned. Our goal here is to provide advanced training that enables recovery experts to function effectively even when resources are limited. Senior Master Sgt. Jordan Jensen, Transit Alert Supervisor and CDDAR Site Manager.

Global coordination

While similar F-35 CDDAR courses are available, such as the recently launched program at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, the Volk Field course stands out for its emphasis on multinational collaboration and real-world recovery scenarios. Dan Santos explained that the Hill AFB course primarily prepares personnel for F-35 incidents at established airfields and strictly adheres to technical recovery orders. Instead, the Volk Field program tackles off-airfield accident recovery scenarios, challenging participants to assess complex situations and apply their expertise and available resources to resolve them.

A notable training scenario involved the recovery of an A-6 aircraft partially submerged in mud. This exercise demonstrated the value of varied approaches as each team used a different recovery strategy to achieve success. Santos emphasized the importance of these diverse approaches, noting that they add valuable insights and techniques to the global F-35 recovery effort.

The CDDAR training at Volk Field reflects a broader trend to build a ready and collaborative international recovery community. This initiative is becoming increasingly essential as military forces around the world face increasing instability and the demand for rapid and coordinated responses to complex crises. Chief Master Sgt. Thorsten Michels of the German Air Force emphasized the importance of international coordination in the recovery of the F-35. Michels referenced his team’s recent work with the US Air Force at the Emergency Responder Weapons Crew conference, where discussions focused on recovery, cooperation and cross-training between F-35 partner nations.

Networks are essential in this area. We already cooperate on other military issues, so it is crucial to extend our cooperation in CDDAR operations as well.

Future initiatives

Looking ahead, Santos revealed that efforts are underway to further enhance CDDAR’s capabilities with new technologies and international collaboration. The U.S. Air Force is testing prototype recovery equipment, including heavy transporters and sleds, known as airplane skids, designed to move disabled aircraft. In addition, discussions are ongoing regarding the greater involvement of fire departments in accident recovery in order to improve preparedness and maximize the use of available resources and personnel.

This recent training event also sparked initiatives to increase the participation of international partners in each other’s CDDAR programs. Such cross-training promises to deepen expertise in the global recovery network, fostering a unified response capability for F-35 accidents.

As Santos observed, “The CDDAR event at Volk Field represents a major milestone in international cooperation and knowledge sharing. By cultivating these collaborative efforts, we are setting the stage for a stronger and more prepared response to F-35 accidents on a global scale.”