Precision is easy for PMEL

Staff Sgt. Eric Dasher uses a specialized ultraviolet lamp to test for hydrocarbons on an oxygen gauge at the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Feb. 25, 2014. Oxygen gauges are certified hydrocarbon free and oxygen safe so they can be used with liquid oxygen. Dasher is a 379th EMXS PMEL technician deployed from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and a Riverton, Ill., native. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. David Miller)

Precision is easy for PMEL

Airman 1st Class Erika Fabian calibrates a hydraulic pressure gauge at the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Feb. 25, 2014. Hydraulic pressure gauges are used for a variety of applications to include monitoring aircraft systems, check struts on landing gear, and give readings for the aircraft arresting emergency procedures. They are also used for various test stations that check brakes, props, and engines. Fabian is a 379th EMXS PMEL technician deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and a Dinuba, Calif., native. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. David Miller)

Precision is easy for PMEL

Senior Airman Christopher Guhl performs audio filter calibration on a 8902A measuring receiver at the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Feb. 25, 2014. Testing and validation of test equipment is vital for ensuring a units ability to test their own communications equipment. Guhl is a 379th EMXS PMEL technician deployed from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and a Three Rivers, Mich., native. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. David Miller)

Precision is easy for PMEL

Staff Sgt. Chace Pugh troubleshoots a 198 weapons test set at the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Feb. 25, 2014. The weapons test set is used to test and fault isolate aircraft weapons release systems. Pugh is a 379th EMXS PMEL technician deployed from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and an El Paso, Texas native. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. David Miller)

Precision is easy for PMEL

Senior Airman Cassandra Bazen uses a microwave measuring receiver to verify signals from a signal generator at the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Feb. 25, 2014. Signal generators are used by satellite communication, radar, ground radio, emergency pilot radio and avionics systems. Bazen is a 379th EMXS PMEL technician deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and an Imperial, Calif., native. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. David Miller)

Precision is easy for PMEL

Senior Airman Patrick Pierce verifies the calibration of a TTU-205J Pressure-Temperature Test Set at the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Feb. 25, 2014. The self-contained flightline or hangar test system is used to accurately simulate in flight pressure conditions by precisely controlling and measuring altitude and airspeed pressure to aircraft’s pitot-static system. The TTU-205 can be used to test, certify, calibrate, and troubleshoot aircraft pitot-static systems or associated pneumatic flight control systems. Pierce is a 379th EMXS PMEL technician deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and a Tallahassee, Fla., native. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. David Miller)

Precision is easy for PMEL

Published Feb. 28, 2014
By Master Sgt. David Miller
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Throughout history, people have struggled to quantify the basic properties of the things around them and to judge their value and/or performance. In the modern world, where value and performance have become increasingly standardized, electrical and physical standards and measurements have become so important that the profession of precision measurement was created.

Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory utilizes the science of metrology (the science or system of weights and measures used to determine conformance to technical requirements) to ensure the safety, accuracy, and reliability of equipment.

The 20 Airmen assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory (PMEL) continue this work by supporting the calibration of approximately 15,000 pieces of equipment assigned to over 260 work centers at 19 bases in 10 countries in the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility for Air Force, sister services, contractors, and coalition forces 24/7/365.

PMEL runs the busiest lab in the world, maintaining a 94% availability rate while ensuring a reduced logistics footprint that saves money in facility, equipment and personnel costs.

They receive, on average, approximately 50 items a day, which adds up to more than 1,500 maintenance actions per month.

While each piece of equipment may not be used in the cleanest environments, each piece of measurement equipment is calibrated in an environmentally controlled, dust-free laboratory to protect the equipment from any outside agents that could affect its calibration. This ensures the user receives the highest quality and reliable unit possible.

PMEL is composed of three sections--physical dimensions, microwave-wave form analysis, and DC/low frequency analysis.

Physical dimensions ensure the torque wrenches, scales and temperatures gauges used on all equipment read accurately. The RF microwave-wave form analysis section of PMEL calibrates electrical equipment dealing with frequency generation and time measurements, such as signal generators, counters, radars and global positioning systems. The final section, DC/low frequency analysis calibrates hand-held multimeters, munitions and weapons testers.

"Some of the test sets we calibrate are for aircraft deployed in the AOR," said Senior Airman Cassandra Bazen, 379th EMXS PMEL technician, deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and an Imperial, Calif., native. "If a pilot decides to launch a guided missile, after identifying that the unknown aircraft is an enemy, a system receives radio information directing the launch of a guided missile. The missile is a combination of electrical, digital, and mechanical parts divided into sections. As PMEL we verify that these missile guidance test sets operate accurately and safely so the mission can go on."

PMEL remains an important aspect of accomplishing overseas contingency operations as it allows each unit to accomplish its own mission and meet U.S. Central Command's mission priorities in the area of operations.

"All sections of this PMEL touch every service in the AOR in some way," said Tech. Sgt. George Hoffmann, 379th EMXS Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment flight lab chief deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and a Queens, N.Y., native.

"The laboratory improvements combined with the knowledge, capability and professionalism of the Airmen on this rotation have been the best I have encountered over my four deployments to Al Udeid. I cannot be more proud and blessed to have such a fantastic complement of Airmen assigned which makes getting the mission accomplished seamless, said Master Sgt. George Peny, 379th EMXS Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment flight chief deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and a Ellabell, Ga., native.