Little Rock refurb crew brings C-130s back to life

Published Jan. 5, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Nestor Cruz
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The aircraft sits in the hangar waiting for its facelift. Inside and out, there are signs of wear and tear: chipped paint, dented metal, torn insulation and peeling decals are a few examples this aircraft has been around.

Airmen from the 19th Equipment Maintenance Squadron's C-130 refurbishment section are in the business of reviving Air Mobility Command's aging fleet of C-130s.

"Take an older plane that's been beat up and used and make it look brand-new again," said Senior Airman Aaron McCormick, a 19th EMS crew chief.

The refurbishment team starts the process by taking out all removable equipment from the aircraft including storage bins, escape hatches, galley equipment, floorboards and seats. The aircraft interior is then sanded, bead-blasted and painted while another section works on the plane's exterior.

"It's like [the TV show] 'This Old House'," said Tech. Sgt. Arthur Billings, a 19th EMS section chief. "We pull the vinyl up and the wood flooring is completely rotted out. We pull that out and find crossbeams with corrosion on it."

Refurbishing aircraft is not an actual Air Force specialty code but a special program.

"We learn how to do each other's jobs," said Staff Sgt. Louis Wilson, a 19th EMS structural maintenance craftsman. "We do all the corrosion inspections, help the crew chiefs pull off equipment and show them or have them show us how to sand ... whoever knows better."

Sergeant Wilson said aircraft are towed to a separate facility for painting after the sanding process.

"We spend a full week painting the interior using about 20 gallons of paint," he said. "After painting, we mask it and start putting equipment and part back in the plane.

"Basically, it's like [the TV show] 'Pimp My Ride'," added Sergeant Wilson. "We bring the aircraft back to Air Force standards."

By restoring the aging fleet back to Air Force standards, the refurbishment team is saving the Air Force thousands of dollars.

"We do a depot-level job here which saves the Air Force more money rather than flying the plane to depot," said Sergeant Billings. "Our process costs approximately $40,000. To send aircraft to depot would cost approximately $400,000."

Returning aircraft to "better than new" status is a team effort here.

"A lot of organizations have a hand in helping us with the process including the electric shop, life support and sheet metal," said Sergeant Billings.

Camaraderie and morale is high for every Airman involved with the refurbishment process, said Sergeant Billings.

"The Armen in this section have a very positive attitude and enjoy what they do," he said. "We have a lot of pride in our work and it's nice when commanders ask us which aircraft are the best ones so they can show them off."

"At the end of the process, after seeing the plane roll in to the time it rolls out, the finished product is a 100 percent turnaround from when it came in," said Airman McCormick. "What's so unique about this shop is you can actually see what you've done and all the hard work you've put in over the past month."