Phase maintenance prevents problems for aircraft

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Andrew Gates
  • 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Like automobiles, combat aircraft need regular preventative maintenance to minimize breakdowns.

Unlike combat aircraft, though, automobiles do not normally need to be virtually dismantled for a 30,000-mile checkup.

Each A-10 Thunderbolt II here is taken apart after 400 flying hours so the maintainers can perform preventative maintenance, said Tech. Sgt. Richard Richardson, 355th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron phase section dock chief.

“We take the aircraft completely apart, fix whatever is broken and put it back together,” he said.

With around-the-clock flying operations, the aircraft rack up flying hours quickly. Since the phase maintenance team arrived in March, they have run all the A-10s here through the procedure.

“At home, we usually see each airplane about once a year,” said Sergeant Richardson. “After four months here, we’re on our second time through.”

The team starts the process by removing the panels and some of the A-10’s exterior “skin,” revealing a framework covered by hydraulic lines.

“We remove the flight control systems and hydraulic lines, if needed,” said Sergeant Richardson. “We go as deep as we need to. We find the problems here that you don’t want to find later on the flightline.”

The team also replaces a lot of items that manufacturers recommend replacing at regular intervals. These parts, called “time-change items,” usually fail after a certain number of hours in the aircraft, said Airman 1st Class Nicholas Burris, from the 355th EAMXS. “We replace them before there’s a risk of failure.”

Working around the clock, the Airmen here can completely tear apart, repair and reassemble an A-10 in about six days.

“The pace is a lot higher here than at home,” said Airman Burris, “since we don’t have 24-hour operations there.”

The painstaking efforts help extend the A-10 Thunderbolt II’s lifespan.

“We can do a great deal in phase,” said Sergeant Richardson. “We can’t do it all -- there are certain systems and parts we aren’t supposed to touch. That’s taken care of at depot level maintenance, done every few years.”

To ensure each aircraft is in outstanding condition at the end of phase maintenance, the team works closely with the nondestructive inspection section, fabrication, metals technology and a host of other flightline shops. Having all the shops in a central location makes the process smoother, as parts do not have to be moved for repairs.

There is a certain amount of internal pressure to complete the job as quickly as possible.

“Everyone here knows how the A-10s affect the overall mission in Afghanistan,” said Sergeant Richardson. “The faster we turn the aircraft, the faster it can get back in the air. Everyone pitches in to get the job done, we do whatever it takes.”

The Thunderbolt II is a pretty simple aircraft to work on, say both maintainers.

“It just takes time,” said Airman Burris. “When you first start working on the aircraft, it’ll blow your mind.

For instance, when Airman Burris started working on the A-10, he said he did not like putting the slats in the leading edges in front of the motors because the job was tedious and confining. Now, he said it is one of his favorite jobs.

Without phase maintenance, the A-10s would not fly as many hours, said Sergeant Richardson. The aircraft would break more often on the line and it might take longer to make multiple individual repairs instead of one huge project.

Keeping the A-10s flying in support of coalition efforts is important to the maintainers, as well.

“I think we’re doing a great thing here,” said Airman Burris. “The sooner we can get everything working smoothly, and help Afghanistan realize its potential, the better.

Sergeant Riachardson agrees.

“The job coalition forces are doing here is critical to world peace. If you let situations like the Sept. 11 attacks slide, it’ll get worse. We are doing a good thing here.”