AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- U.S.
Air Force Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group here
optimized an idea to refurbish engine change carts designed
to help aircraft maintainers throughout U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s area
of responsibility repair aircraft.
The carts, a consolidated medium containing customized
hand tools, are needed to more efficiently change or repair propellers and other parts on the C-130
Hercules aircraft.
"These carts help tremendously,” said Master Sgt. Bradley
Newstead, 746th Aircraft Maintenance Unit propulsion supervisor. “It’s now
easier to do our job without having to transport multiple parts to get it done.”
Newstead began the project by going to the Defense
Reutilization and Marketing Office here to gather parts for the refurbished
equipment.
Structural maintenance, aircraft metals, and aircrew ground
equipment Airmen made the plan’s parts come together. The Airmen used
measurements and the design from a sample cart that was brought here from the
145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard.
“We looked at ways we could reuse pieces off the old carts
and modified them,” said Staff Sgt. Cody Leonard, 379th Expeditionary
Maintenance Squadron aircraft metals technician.
In the end, waste is minimized and time is cut to receive
new materials shipped to the AOR. These new carts utilize consolidated
equipment which provides a great convenience to each Airman.
“The new configuration allows the cart to function in the
same way as the originals, but they are more spacious and carry a greater
number of equipment and tools,” said Newstead. “It’s going to be satisfying to know what it
was and what is to come.”