The U.S. Air Force Deploys Plum for Emergency Communications
Overview
The USAF trains regularly for aircraft incidents off-base. Part of that training is running periodic crash simulations to test incident response, including establishing an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and coordinating a disaster response force. In a recent downed-aircraft training scenario, the USAF ran into communication issues and deployed a Plum Case to re-establish connectivity.
About
Moody Air Force Base, located in Lowndes County, Georgia, conducts crash simulation drills in rural areas across the state to test the disaster response force function of the USAF. These exercises validate how quickly the base can stand up an EOC and coordinate fire, security, medical, and legal teams under realistic field conditions, often in remote locations where standing infrastructure can’t be relied on.
Challenge
During a recent simulation, the USAF placed an HH-60 helicopter in an isolated rural area in Echols County, GA. The USAF stood up the EOC and dispatched an initial response force — Fire Department, security forces, legal, and medical — to the site. When the teams arrived, communications were unavailable apart from the Fire Department’s LMR radios, leaving crews unable to coordinate with each other or report back to the EOC.
Solution
Fortunately, Moody AFB had a Plum Case at its disposal and was able to quickly deploy the portable broadband unit. As soon as it powered on, everyone on-site could connect, coordinate with their teams, and report back to the EOC. Reliable, secure network communication through the Plum Case let the dispatched teams operate effectively as they executed the drill.
Moody Air Force Base uses Plum Cases because they can be deployed at any location to provide connectivity to temporary EOCs, making it possible to run an effective EOC even when wireless infrastructure is insufficient or absent.
Outcome
The quick deployment of the Plum Case allowed the initial disaster force to communicate both on-site and with the EOC. The Case provided a reliable means of communication at the crash site and let units access digital resources to assess the situation and report back.
In an actual incident, the Plum Case would also support the second-echelon team that arrives after the initial disaster force. That team — typically responsible for damage assessment and cleanup — may need to operate on-site for extended periods and, depending on the location, would require a secure network to do so.
Plum Cases provide reliable, secure, portable internet at the push of a button. They withstand the wear and tear of deployment and deliver communications when signal strength is an issue or where no signal exists — enabling better command and control, faster response times, and interoperability that can make all the difference in a real emergency.