Maintainers keep refuelers in air

  • Published
  • By Capt. Angela Smith
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Temperatures can climb above 100 degrees in the desert daily. On the flightline, it is about 10 to 30 degrees higher. In the avionics compartment of a jet, it is hot enough to “fry an egg,” said aircraft maintainers. Yet they work around the clock to launch KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender aircraft for refueling missions supporting the war against terrorism from a forward-deployed location.

“It’s a daily challenge to get the jets off the ground with a limited number of people,” said Senior Airman Michael Payne, a KC-10 crew chief from the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “People launch one plane and literally run to another that’s landing. It’s like playing tag,”

Maintainers prepare the aircraft before takeoff, oversee launch and then conduct recovery when the aircraft lands. These Airmen usually work in “float” shifts for 12 hours at a time.

An effective launch team or recovery team works together to quickly take care of incoming or outgoing KC-135s and KC-10s. After the aircraft lands, the recovery team tows the plane using a vehicle called a UKE, which can pull as much as 595,000 pounds.

“My first priority is safety of the plane,” said Senior Airman Sean Dodson on his role as a tow supervisor with the 380th EAMXS. “I take initial charge of it once it lands. Everyone works together as a team to get the job done.”

In fact, KC-135 maintainers with the 380th EAMXS have to cover an area spanning more than three miles, which can require up to 30 minutes of travel time to reach a plane and get back to their shop. Additionally, KC-135s make up 75 percent of the launches from the base daily.

However, preparing a plane for a mission can take up to six hours or longer if problems arise. Aircraft maintainers are constantly working to resolve problems.

“Figuring out a problem is challenging,” said Senior Airman Candice Richardson, a KC-10 guidance and control specialist with the 380th EAMXS. “But I enjoy helping out and learning about other specialties.”

To ensure flight safety, aircraft maintainers are continuously critiqued by the strictest of standards, officials said.

“Air refueling doesn’t happen with jets and crews alone.” said Col. Jon VanGuilder, 380th Expeditionary Operations Group commander. “Everyone from maintainers to command post to transportation and services make it happen. When the air refueling pumps go on and fuel flows through the boom, it’s just the final step in the incredible dance that is … air refueling.”