Combat Flightline keeps C-130s flying
by 2nd Lt. Matt Smith
86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
2/5/2004 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFPN) -- The year was 1965. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive and man had yet to land on the moon. Amazingly, most of the C-130E Hercules aircraft currently based here were flying in 1965; many were used during the Vietnam conflict.
Like a car, these aircraft will last longer and perform better when they are cared for properly. A program called Combat Flightline, one of several initiatives introduced by Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, strives to do just that.
Specifically, Combat Flightline is designed to reduce overdue maintenance training, increase experience on the flightline, meet or exceed the Air Force mission-capable rate 10 out of 12 months, improve maintenance data documentation, increase the visibility of key wing indicators and improve professional appearance of aircraft and facilities.
Among other things, Combat Flightline workers encourage maintainers to improve the appearance and serviceability of the aging aircraft thereby lengthening their service life.
Several strategies were implemented to address the appearance of the C-130s here. One of the newest and most unique is a robotic aircraft washing system tested in late January at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. The testing was a success, and the robotic washer is currently used by the 100th Air Refueling Wing to maintain appearance of the KC-135 Stratotankers and Air Force Special Operations Command’s C-130s stationed there.
“The new robotic washing system works very well and will decrease the time needed for us to wash an aircraft,” said Master Sgt. Richard Bolyard, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent. “A full wash crew of eight to 10 people could be cut to five, and this washing system could cut three to four hours off our total washing time, allowing maintainers time to work other aircraft maintenance and appearance issues.”
Besides employing robot technology, airmen also maintain aircraft appearance in other creative ways. In the fall, a Combat Flightline “hit” team composed of airmen from six specialties used their collective talents to successfully eliminate the most glaring appearance problems. The team faced a variety of obstacles working around a busy flying schedule, but in the end improved the appearance of the 12 local C-130s without hindering a single mission.
“The biggest change I’ve seen after the hit team was the increase of pride by maintainers,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Russell, a crew chief assigned to the team from the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “Other dedicated crew chiefs on the flightline take more pride in the appearance of their aircraft. Even specialists who don’t normally get assigned to an aircraft help take care of the aircraft they work.”
This dedication is what makes the combat crew challenge, another Combat Flightline initiative here, work. Maintainers from throughout the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron are assigned to teams responsible for four aircraft. These teams compete monthly based upon aircraft and individual performance.
In the future, the Combat Flightline program will continue to improve the appearance of the aircraft. (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service) |
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