Ellsworth Airmen reinvent the ladder

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Raelynne J. Dennis
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFPN) --  Airmen here saw a problem and found a way to fix it, making the B-1B Lancer a more reliable warfighting machine.

The problem involved the crew entry ladder being removed from the aircraft for repairs during the refurbishment process. This made the aircraft “not mission capable” for about seven days.

To improve the process and eliminate as much down time as possible, several Airmen of the 28th Maintenance Squadron came together to create a solution.

The Airmen decided to repair the ladder during a scheduled 10-day inspection called “phase,” when the aircraft is already not mission capable.

“We decided that the repairs could be done during the time that the aircraft is already not mission capable, leaving the (aircraft during the) 12-day refurbishment process to be ‘fully mission capable,’” said 1st Lt. David Black, 28th MXS maintenance flight commander.

However, during the phase inspection, maintainers need access to the aircraft cockpit.

“We completely (took) down the ladder to repair it, and this caused a problem for people needing to inspect the cockpit,” Lieutenant Black said.

The Airmen removed a ladder at the best possible time and created a solution to use the aircraft while the ladder was repaired.

They put together an idea for the temporary ladder by drawing a picture and comparing it to standards to make sure it was up to code, said Capt. Corey Beaverson, the squadron B-1B mechanical engineer.

The ladder solution reduced the unit’s number of not-mission-capable days.

“Our warfighting capability is based off of not-mission-capable time,” Lieutenant Black said. “The more time the B-1 is mission-capable, the more reliable the aircraft becomes.”

“Being able to say the B-1 is more reliable shows that our (Airmen) have initiative,” said Senior Master Sgt. Paul Stroud, squadron fabrication flight chief. “They are able to see an obstacle, put their heads together and overcome.”

The Airmen continuously strive to make things work better, Lieutenant Black said.

“The creation of the temporary crew entry ladder is a perfect example on how the maintainers here continuously strive to strengthen and refine working conditions for a safer and more efficient way of doing business,” he said.