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340th EAMU Airmen keep mission critical assets flying

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Accomplishing in-flight refueling missions are critical to establishing and preserving air superiority downrange. That is why maintaining these important aircraft assets here is critical to mission success.

Airmen of the 340th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit take great pride in ensuring every external piece of moving equipment on the KC-135 Stratotanker works like it's supposed to. They conduct hydraulic maintenance on more than 30 KC-135s that rotate through the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The mechanics inspect and maintain many moving parts. Spoilers, rudders, landing gears and the boom that pumps fuel are just a few of the many components they are responsible for to ensure the mission is executed. They work with and understand an elaborate maze of hydraulic tubes running underneath the panels of the aircraft, which pump fluid to these vital moving parts.

When an aircraft has hydraulic issues, solving the problem isn't as easy as just popping open an instruction manual and following the guidelines.

"Experience is extremely important when working with hydraulics," said Tech Sgt. Grady Heckler, 340th EAMU hydraulic system shift lead. "We find out what the issues are from either the pilots or boom operators and figure out what we need to do from there. Some issues are easier than others, but we always find a way to solve the problem."

In September alone, the hydraulic mechanics have contributed to the successful completion of more than 600 KC-135 sorties, transferring more than 25 million pounds of fuel throughout the area of responsibility.

Another challenge these mechanics have continual success with is the arrival of new aircraft assigned to the 379th AEW that originate from colder environments.

"Many aircraft experience hydraulic fluid leaks when they first arrive because they aren't acclimated to the desert conditions," said Staff Sgt. Gabriel Royster, 340th EAMU hydraulic system mechanic deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. "We have to make sure all the bugs are worked out when they arrive so the issues don't magnify over time."

These total force mechanics, made up of active, guard and reserve Airmen, are up to any challenge put in front of them. Within the last month, they have conducted a main landing gear strut replacement and a boom change, neither of which are ideal in a deployed environment. A main landing gear strut replacement typically takes 48 hours to accomplish - these Airmen completed it in 24. A boom change normally takes more than 12 hours to accomplish - these Airmen did it in 10. The broad range of experience these Airmen bring to the mission allowed the aircraft to get back into the fight more quickly than anticipated.

"These Airmen from hydraulics have a tremendous work ethic and jump at any chance to get to the flightline to get their hands dirty," said Heckler, deployed from Birmingham Air National Guard Base, Ala. "Anytime a unit needs assistance, they volunteer to help. They bring a selfless, positive attitude to work every day and the payoff shows in their work."