Airmen help improve C-130 night missions

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Val Gempis
  • Air Force Print News
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Air Force survival equipment technicians are helping make Pacific Air Force nighttime airlift operations safer by replacing the interior insulation on C-130 Hercules aircraft during an ongoing refurbishment program here.

During night training, C-130 aircrews use Night Vision Imaging System equipment. The aircrew members said they had difficulty performing their nighttime missions with the bright green insulation on the flight deck and in the cargo area.

The 10-person survival equipment element from the 374th Maintenance Squadron here has been removing the green insulation in the C-130s and replacing it with newer NVIS-capable charcoal gray insulation assembled from scratch.

The unit supports C-130 cargo planes from here and Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

Armed with markers, ladders, scissors, screwdrivers and garbage bags, airmen work their way around a C-130 carefully marking, modifying, removing and stowing the worn-out pieces in plastic containers.

“It takes quite a bit of time to modify the aircraft. It’s a lot of work. There are about 300 pieces of insulation on one C-130 aircraft,” said Staff Sgt. William Brodie, a survival equipment technician.

These include all of the cargo pieces, the seat covers, bunks, armrests, dash covers, kick panels, throttle covers and bumper pads.

“We have a timeline of about one day to completely gut (an) aircraft and three to five days to (install) the new NVIS-capable insulation,” Brodie said.

The team uses heavy-duty sewing machines to make precise designs and patterns for the new insulation. They also use semiautomated machines to install studs and cap fasteners on the material. The airmen said it takes about six weeks to produce all of the new custom-made insulation pieces.

“We’re proud to make an important contribution to the mission here,” said Staff Sgt. Sam Farrell, a survival equipment technician.