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Maintaining the 'Young at heart'

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Loftin
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing
Southwest Asia --  Youth has its advantages, but is not without its challenges. A unit here handles the challenges of the latest version of the Air Force's Hercules aircraft so its advantages can be reaped in the area of responsibility. 

The 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 746th Aircraft Maintenance Unit maintains two C-130J aircraft, both of which are less than two years old, for the first active-duty J-model squadron to deploy to the AOR. 

"Anytime you get a new airframe in the inventory some of the repair procedures for certain components are proprietary," said Capt. Bo Shelton, 379 EAMXS/746 AMU officer in charge. "For years they wouldn't even let us work on some of the systems. Now they let us work on it a bit, but most of the components on the J-model are remove and replace. The engines and props are built by British companies. You don't troubleshoot a lot of it like you would the C-130H models." 

The C-130J joined the Air Force inventory in the 1990s. It boasts an advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated digital avionics, color liquid crystal displays, state-of-the-art navigation systems and fully integrated defensive systems. The aircraft also has a database that lists components that may have a discrepancy and maintenance issues during the flight. The Air Force currently has only 68 J-models. 

"On an H-model you might have to troubleshoot something for hours to isolate an issue - with the J you can download the flight data after landing," said the Roswell, Ga., native. "The J-model will tell you what's wrong, but it may not be a true indication. Crews come down sometimes and think they have discrepancies, but then we'll reboot the specific system and they're fixed. That is the nature of new technology. It takes years before they work all the bugs out of it. These things are a lot more software driven than the older aircraft." 

In a recent incident, an aircraft sensor told the crew there was a false indication of smoke in the aircraft, but it turned out to just be a dirty sensor, said the captain. 

"With any new airplane you're going to have growing pains," said Captain Shelton, deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. "We'll work our way through them eventually. Right now we're having issues with props and with engines attributed to temperature extremes. Other than that, they are flying exceptionally well." 

The unit has changed out several propellers and engines on the aircraft during the past month. 

"The two Js we have here are workhorses," he said. "They've been working them as hard as the older models. The older ones have an excuse; they break because they're old. We've had the Js seven or eight years and they're still working the kinks out of them." 

The unit has recently turned the challenges of working with a newer airframe into operational success. 

"The 746 AMU was an integral part of the records we set last month in the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Devore, 746 EAS commander. "We nicknamed last month our 'September to Remember.' Our AMU kept the tails in the best shape I have seen them during my tour." 

The 746 EAS, which includes four different models of C-130s, boasted 605 combat sorties and more than 1,050 combat hours in September. They also flew more than 12,000 passengers and airlifted more than 1,000 tons of cargo. It has also transported more than 300 patients and 40 distinguished visitors. 

"The absolute trust we have in our maintenance partners has never been stronger," said Colonel Devore. "These guys are out in the heat making it happen. I can't say enough about the efforts they put in day after day with little to no recognition. The only thing they ask in return is that we take care of their plane while we are out on the mission." 

One of those Airmen and a C-130J aircraft from his home station of Little Rock AFB, Ark., are both on their first deployment to the AOR. 

"I was pretty happy I got to come here," said Airman 1st Class Joseph Marion, a crew chief on the C-130Js here. "My goal is to try to learn as much about the plane as I can. The month and a half I've been here I've done more heavy-duty maintenance than I did the whole year I was back in the states." 

Airman Marion and about 100 others from bases across the U.S. have turned maintenance challenges into successes. 

"We couldn't do the job we do without Airmen like Airman Marion," said Captain Shelton. "We have some great young guys who have done whatever my supervision and I have asked and more. We wouldn't be able to accomplish the (successes we had in September) without these dedicated Airmen. They've done everything we've asked them to and went above and beyond any expectations." 

Airman Marion, who has been in the Air Force for less than two years, said he likes working on the younger aircraft because they are cleaner and more advanced. Like his grandfather, who was an aircraft maintainer in the Army Air Corps, the 20-year-old Airman said he likes keeping the planes in the air. 

"If they're on the ground, they are not getting done what we need to get done," said the Port Richie, Fla., native. "The most rewarding part of my job is keeping the aircraft fully mission capable and getting them into the sky so they can provide combat airlift to the AOR. That's why I deployed." 

This is the attitude Captain Shelton said has kept his unit in the fight despite the challenges of working with both old and young models of the Hercules. 

"Their attitude is great," he said. "They're highly motivated. They understand what needs to be done and they do it. Our September numbers are a tribute to these maintainers. Operations would not have been able to achieve what they did without these guys going above and beyond - setting the standard."