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New airframe? No problem for CT guard unit

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Matkin
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Members of the 103rd Airlift Wing, Connecticut Air National Guard, transitioned from flying the A-10 Thunderbolt to the C-21 learjet and are deployed here as a unit for the first time in six years. This has not stopped them, however, from meeting all their mission requirements and maintaining a 100 percent mission success rate, despite the fact they are achieving these high marks on an aircraft they acquired just three years ago.

Caught in a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure initiative, the 103rd Airlift Wing transitioned to flying C-21 learjets when its A-10 mission was transferred to the 104th Fighter Wing in Massachusetts.

"Losing the A-10 Thunderbolt was a real bloodletting because we knew nothing but A-10s," said Maj. Wayne Ferris, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, 103rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in-charge.

"The transition from a fighter platform to a cargo-type aircraft may have tested this unit at the time, but they now recognize the positive outcome that resulted from these changes.

"At first there was some apprehension moving from the A-10 to the C-21," Major Ferris said. "But as it turned out, there were benefits because we came together as a team and the C-21 has become a great asset."

Major Ferris said this first deployment with their new airframe has been a true test of their unit's and the aircraft's capabilities.

"Prior to our acquisition of the C-21, this aircraft was maintained by civilian contractors who used customized maintenance manuals, which are not as detailed as technical orders. To bridge this gap, over the last three years, the 103rd has been working to make sure our maintainers have the necessary expertise to ensure these aircraft are in impeccable condition and up to standards with other Air National Guard assets," Major Ferris said.

"The 103 AW has definitely risen to the challenge of being deployed with a new airframe," said Lt. Col. Brian Burger, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group C-21 detachment commander. "Their mission success rates speak for themselves."

"We are ahead of the power curve," Major Ferris said. "Our numbers are off the charts, our full mission-capable rate is 98.5 percent, and our fix rate is 100 percent with zero break rates. Our Guard technicians are leading the pack as far as maintenance capability."

Recently, the 103 AW was tasked to complete a Phase Four Inspection. Maintainers formed into two teams and worked 12-hour shifts, omitting their breaks by choice and taking only short rests to drink water. They completed a Phase Four Inspection in just 17 hours, a job that normally takes 60 work hours to complete.

"Performing phases in a deployed environment can be very challenging," Major Ferris said. "It is not like home station where you have 100 percent of the facilities, parts and equipment on hand."

Phase maintenance is required when an aircraft reaches a predetermined accumulated amount of flying hours. The aircraft is not permitted to resume flying again until it has been "phased," which includes nose to tail inspections and maintenance - the equivalent of a complete automobile overhaul.

"This incredible work ethic is typical of our unit," Colonel Burger said. "We weren't tasked to deploy, but when Air Mobility Command asked our unit, we immediately stepped up and everyone volunteered to be here. This deployment has been a great boost to our unit."

Major Ferris agreed. "This deployment has really energized our group and, hopefully, we will have more opportunities to deploy as a unit. Being able to work in this type of environment has lifted the morale of the maintainers -- it has been an awesome experience."