New facility aids transition to enduring presence

Published March 27, 2007
By Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer
379th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The transition toward an enduring presence requires efficient long-term planning, such as pre-positioning equipment in warehouses similar to home station.

This line of thinking has led to increased storage capability for aircraft parts to meet the high operations tempo. Most recently, the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron acquired an existing storage facility to stock up on parts assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The former aerospace ground equipment warehouse is located at the northern end of Ops Town in close proximity to other 379th ELRS storage facilities, and is mostly used for B-1B Lancer parts. The additional real estate gives supply personnel more "elbow room," and saves money by sheltering aircraft parts from the heat and dust that would render the parts unserviceable over time.

Traditionally, aircraft maintenance units deploy to expeditionary environments with mobile airlift containers of parts needed to support the aircraft. The limited number of parts will eventually have to be replaced through shipments from the United States.

"The fastest that I've ever seen a part arrive here after being ordered is five days, and that's a long time to wait if you're in the field depending on air support," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Allen, 379th ELRS supply superintendent.

The intent is to store high turnover parts that maintainers often need, so aircraft will not be grounded while waiting for them to be shipped in. Items now are available to customers that have never been stored here before," Chief Allen said.

B-1B supply technicians from the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit have tapped into the increased inventory of parts to reduce response time and keep aircraft fully mission capable.

"It really helps provide more parts than if we were by ourselves," said Tech. Sgt. Weston Anderson, 34th AMU supply NCOIC. "Instead of ordering parts at the highest priority, we can pick them up at the warehouse."