Gotta fix ‘em before you fly ‘em

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Michael Farris
  • 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) --  Nestled in a small, nondescript building among a dozen aircraft revetments here, the 353rd Maintenance Squadron’s consolidated tool kit section hums with activity around the clock.

With more than 1,600 bench-stock items, 200 pieces of test equipment and 120 hazardous materials, it is the first and last stop for mechanics who maintain the Special Operations MC-130 Combat Talon and Combat Shadow fleet assigned here.

Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Marshall has been the noncommissioned officer in charge of the consolidated tool kit for seven months. He said he takes accountability seriously and understands the $4.2 million of equipment is as important as the airplanes themselves.

“If they can’t be fixed, they can’t be flown,” he said.

At the beginning of each shift, mechanics are briefed on what work is required. Their first stop is at the tool kit to select the tools they will need to finish the job. Mechanics log into a computer, and their tools are scanned via barcodes.

The pressure increases during shift change when dozens of mechanics are turning in tools while the oncoming shift tries to check them out.

“With all the programs we manage, it’s sometimes difficult to deliver the quality customer service we know these maintainers deserve, but we do our best,” Sergeant Marshall said. “The possible combination of tools, test equipment and bench stock somebody might require (is) endless.”

Senior Airman Chris Runge is an instrument and flight controls specialist who has been here for three years. He recently began working in the tool kit section and knows how important it is for mechanics to have the right tools for the jobs.

“If they have a full range of serviceable tools, the likelihood for them to get the job done without shortcuts or improvisation is much higher,” he said. “It’s a drag to make repeated trips back … to pick up additional tools.”

Besides all the tools and parts available for daily use, a series of massive shipping containers store a duplicate copy of the entire tool kit for immediate deployment to any hot spot throughout the Pacific.

Along a back wall in three cabinets are nuts, bolts, washers, electric connectors and hundreds of multicolored gizmos. Each of these bench-stock items has a name, number and price tag. The Airmen monitor all items to ensure adequate quantities are on hand for the maintainers when they need them.

Flashlights, screwdrivers and torque wrenches are the most commonly used tools by the squadron maintainers. Nearly every wrench-bender requires access to panels, control units and access doors. Other tools are used less frequently but serve vitally important functions.

“Without proper synchronization, the four propellers will cause serious vibration, and the airplane can suffer lost fuel efficiency,” Sergeant Marshall said. “We use a $56,000 prop synchronizing test set to fine-tune propeller spin so all the props rotate simultaneously.”

The maintainers rely on the staff of mechanics to keep the planes flying. They also rely on the consolidated took kit section to provide the right tools for the job.