Members from the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron worked together to replace a C-17 Globemaster III engine in Southwest Asia, August 4, 2012. Most engine changes are done within 48 hours in a controlled environment inside an aircraft hangar, but the 'Ocho' team finished in 34 hours and saved $120,000 by doing the repairs downrange at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera

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U.S. Air Force (Left to right) Staff Sgt. Aaron Bingham, Ryan Shaw, Robert Hill and Senior Airman David Taylor, all assigned to the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, push an engine cradle to the lift trailer prior to replacing a C-17 Globemaster III engine in Southwest Asia, August 4, 2012. Most engine changes are done within 48 hours in a controlled environment inside an aircraft hangar, but the 'Ocho' team finished in 34 hours and saved $120,000 by doing the repairs downrange at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Bingham, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron aerospace propulsion craftsman, checks the technical data before attaching the engine removal/installation cradle to the C-17 Globemaster III engine three in Southwest Asia, August 4, 2012. Most engine changes are done within 48 hours in a controlled environment inside an aircraft hangar, but the 'Ocho' team finished in 34 hours and saved $120,000 by doing the repairs downrange at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Bingham is deployed from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera)

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Robert Hill, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron guidance and control craftsman, takes a break underneath the C-17 Globemaster III outboard engine cowl in Southwest Asia, August 4, 2012. Most engine changes are done within 48 hours in a controlled environment inside an aircraft hangar, but the 'Ocho' team finished in 34 hours and saved $120,000 by doing the repairs downrange at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Hill is deployed from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and is a native of Parkton, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera)

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Members from the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron slowly lower the C-17 Globemaster III engine in Southwest Asia, August 4, 2012. The engine change marks the first C-17 engine change in more than a year here at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Airmen from the 'Ocho' team finished in 34 hours and saved $120,000 by doing the repairs downrange while a typical engine change back home are done within 48 hours in a controlled environment inside an aircraft hangar. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera)

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Members from the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron slowly lower the C-17 Globemaster III engine in Southwest Asia, August 4, 2012. The engine change marks the first C-17 engine change in more than a year here at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Airmen from the 'Ocho' team finished in 34 hours and saved $120,000 by doing the repairs downrange while a typical engine change back home are done within 48 hours in a controlled environment inside an aircraft hangar. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera)

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Members from the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron slowly lower the C-17 Globemaster III engine in Southwest Asia, August 4, 2012. The engine change marks the first C-17 engine change in more than a year here at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Airmen from the 'Ocho' team finished in 34 hours and saved $120,000 by doing the repairs downrange while a typical engine change back home are done within 48 hours in a controlled environment inside an aircraft hangar. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera)

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‘The Ochos’ save AF more than $120K

Published Aug. 9, 2012
By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airmen, also known as 'The Ochos,' from the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron conducted a complete engine change on at C-17 Globemaster III Aug. 4 and 5 in Southwest Asia.

This extensive engine change would typically be conducted at a Tier 1 location, such as Ramstein Air Base, Germany. However, to save time, and money, the only Tier 2 maintenance unit in the area of responsibility came to the rescue and returned this plane back to the fight in record time.

"When we have a plane go down for maintenance, it is critical that we get it back up as quickly as possible," said Lt. Col. Louis Hansen, 8th EAMS commander. "With our Airmen doing the engine change here, this will ensure the plane is back into the fight sooner than if it had to go all the way to Ramstein. This translates into our ability to supply sustained combat power to the air component commander to meet his objectives."

Undertaking a huge project like this gives 'The Ocho' Airmen the opportunity to showcase the skills and training they received at their home unit and to put those skills into use to get this aircraft operational again.

The average C-17 engine change in a controlled environment typically takes two days to complete at home station. 'The Ochos' were able to accomplish this and reduce the "in work" time by more than 25 percent in the theater of operations where the extreme desert conditions exceeded temperatures of 110 degrees.

"We were able to complete the entire engine change in less than 34 hours," said Staff Sgt. Aaron Bingham, 8th EAMS engine mechanic. "Everything went really well. Once we got all the equipment aligned, it was step-by-step -- by the book."

Anytime a plane is down for maintenance, it can cause a ripple effect across the entire AOR. The goal for 'The Ocho' Airmen is to reduce that ripple effect as much as possible.

"When I hear of a C-17 being down for maintenance, I think that is one less plane the 816th EAS can fly to deliver beans and bullets to the war fighter or provide life-saving medical care to patients in need of critical care," said Hansen. "This is something we take very seriously and my guys are the best at what they do. I am extremely honored to serve alongside each of them."

The 'Ocho' Airmen earned a notch on their belt for this remarkable accomplishment. Although this is a task they are trained to do, it is rarely done in a down-range uncontrolled environment and in the expeditious manner in which it was completed.