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Flight line crews kept informed at "MOC" speed

  • Published
  • By Pfc. Cody A. Thompson
  • 40th Public Affairs Detachment
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Before a pilot can take-off or land, he needs to know the condition of his aircraft, and if any potential dangers could arise due to bad weather, broken equipment or potential attacks.

The 4th Maintenance Operations Center, made-up of units from seven different states, ensures their aircraft are logged, maintained, and ready for time sensitive take-offs and landings here.

"We compile all of the information from take-offs, landings, weather conditions, and (the) maintenance status into a centralized location," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Woller, the senior controller with the 455th Equipment Maintenance Group.

The information enables commanders and aircrews to view the history of past and current flight plans as well as potential problems.

In conjunction with pilots, the MOC is able to categorize the extent of aircraft damages, if any, by using several codes.

"The pilots communicate to us the status of their aircraft," said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Donald Seymore, a C-130 controller with the 1-36th Air Wing Maintenance Operation Field from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. The pilots communicate whether there are no mechanical problems with their plane, minor mechanical problems but are still able to fly and major mechanical problems that will not allow the plane to fly, explained Sergeant Seymore.

The MOC is broken up into multiple sections dealing with F-15E Strike Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and C-130 Hercules aircraft. This data is collected by the senior controller, who logs data while simultaneously keeping flight crews and commanders informed of conditions. Part of this is making sure airdrops get to their destination.

"Airdrops have to be at the right place at the right time," said Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Cobb, a Reno, Nev., native, and a C-130 MOC controller with the 1-52nd Maintenance Squadron. "Beans, bullets, whatever they need to do their job and hopefully get them home."

Before flight crews can deliver equipment to different forward operating bases they have to first go through the MOC to create an effective flight plan.

"We monitor maintenance status of all aircraft, land times, and even when the next projected time for an engine oil analysis," said Staff Sgt. Erick R. Davis, an Amarillo, Texas, native, and MOC F-15E controller with the 455th EMG. "We are the main hub of the flight line."

This hub of controllers enables commanders to create plans according to the data presented to them.

"The information gathered is taken to a weekly briefing where the different crews explain the information to Brig. Gen. Steven Kwast, commander, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing," Sergeant Woller said.

After the briefing, commanders are able to keep track of the tools at their command and initiate effective missions.

"Our MOC is the linchpin in this effort to provide security to the Afghan people," said General Kwast. "Without the tireless work of these Airmen we couldn't maintain 100 percent accountability of our aircraft and launch all available assets to provide security for the Afghan people and our Coalition forces; their efforts are crucial to this fight."