Aircraft maintenance keeps Fever Ops running

Published Dec. 16, 2011
By Staff Sgt. David Carbajal
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan -- Even in ideal working conditions, maintaining engines and mechanical instruments can present its fair share of challenges. In the dry, dusty conditions of Afghanistan, these challenges can be even greater.

About 40 Airmen assigned to the 71st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron maintain the HC-130P Combat Kings used by the squadron to transport injured people out of remote areas of the country.

With an alert-status mission like the 71st ERQS, the maintenance unit runs 24-hour operations and must be able to launch an aircraft in 30 minutes or less.

Over the past six months, the 71st ERQS has flown more than 900 flight hours and nearly 500 sorties supporting their medical evacuation mission.

Despite their high operations tempo, the maintenance unit is still held to a high standard of capability. In Afghanistan, C-130 maintenance units must maintain a mission-capable rate of 75 percent.

"Our mission-capable rate is currently 97 percent," said Master Sgt. Chris Sullens, maintenance superintendent.

This feat is even more impressive when the age of the aircraft is considered. The unit's assigned HC-130s are more than 45 years old.

"We're able to maintain that mission capable rate by performing a lot of preventative maintenance on the aircraft," Sullens said. "Conducting basic post-flight inspections--ensuring nothing substantial has been damaged--and fixing problems as soon as they are discovered."

One reoccurring issue the maintenance unit discovers is the aircraft brakes.

"The hot temperatures and short runways really wear down the brakes," said Sullens, who is deployed from the 723rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

Some of the runways the crews land on are shorter than 5,000 feet long.

"At one location, the runway is about 3,400 feet long," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Adam Kawatski, HC-130 pilot. "That puts a lot more stress on the brakes compared to the runways that are about 10,000 feet long."

Maintenance must also ensure other less-used capabilities are still available.

"The aircraft also has the ability to perform in-flight refueling to helicopters," said Kawatski. "This capability isn't used often, but it's important for that ability to be available if it is needed."

This capability requires more attention for the external fuel tanks and the refueling booms.

"These guys are doing a good job," said Sullens. "They're playing an important role in the rescue squadron's success."

"It's a huge team effort," said Lt. Col. Peter Dominicis, 71st ERQS commander. "We wouldn't be able to do what we do without them. They really keep the mission going."