Airmen help improve B-2 aircraft maintenance in Guam

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Val Gempis
  • Air Force Print News
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Airmen from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., are helping improve aircraft maintenance for future rotations of B-2 Spirit bombers worldwide during a deployment here.

“Our deployment is going fairly well, but there have been some unique maintenance challenges for us here,” said Capt. Brady Wilkins, aircraft maintenance officer in charge.

The Airmen have been on this tropical island since Feb. 25 to provide U.S. Pacific Command officials a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing regional security and the U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific. Bomber aircraft have had an ongoing presence in Guam since February 2004.

Although the B-2 bombers have flown on the island on short stints before, now they are here longer as part of an air and space expeditionary force deployment.

Before arriving here, the mechanics came up with a checklist of aircraft equipment and supplies they needed to sustain their flight operations here.

“We tailored our mobility package based on our mission requirements and Andersen’s ability to support those requirements to limit our mobility footprint here,” Captain Wilkins said.

Some of their specialty tools, one-of-a-kind equipment used only on B-2s, were left in Missouri. But the team was quickly faced with maintenance issues they did not expect here.

First, the wash facilities were not designed to wash the B-2s. With Andersen’s close proximity to the ocean, the maintainers are required to do a clear-water rinse on the B-2s after every other flight to prevent corrosion and a full wash every 30 days. Back home, the Airmen gave the aircraft a full wash every 120 days.

The Airmen also said they did not expect the frequency of aircraft tile repair here. They left the special tool they used to place tiles on the aircraft at Whiteman. Damaged tiles can keep the aircraft from flying.

“It was our biggest challenge to date, and we proved we could perform required maintenance on the road,” said Master Sgt. Andrew Scott, aircraft structural maintenance chief.

To cope with some of their equipment challenges, the Airmen reviewed and researched aircraft maintenance technical data.

They found creative and effective solutions authorized by their engineers and safety officers here, Sergeant Scott said.

To solve the tile repair problems, Airmen bought a 150-pound bag of shotgun shells downtown. After using blankets to prevent damaging the fragile tiles, they put the bag on top of damaged areas to help evenly squeeze adhesive on the back of the tiles so it would bond properly.

The seal of the tiles was perfect according to X-rays, said Senior Master Sgt. Steven Ramage, lead production superintendent. “We’re happy that we got the job done.”

To alleviate the wash facility dilemma, they received help from people here. The mechanics learned to operate a “Condor” lift truck so they could safely wash the top area of the B-2, unit officials said.

They said they will probably find themselves at forward-deployed locations again.

“We will pass the valuable lessons we’ve learned here to our people back at Whiteman. It’s great to operate from a forward location and generate aircraft sorties. (We) will get the job done anytime, anywhere, anyplace,” Captain Wilkins said.