KC-10 maintainers keep mission flowing

Published Aug. 7, 2006
By Capt. Sheldon Knudsen
380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- KC-10 Extender maintainers work long days on the flightline with temperatures reaching nearly 135 degrees on the scorching concrete, and it is even hotter in the KC-10s parked on the ramp. These are the conditions facing the Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

The maintenance specialties are almost as varied as the men and women who maintain the aircraft. The areas that keep the KC-10s flying include communications and navigation, guidance and control, hydraulics, jet engines, fuels, electrical and environmental systems and aero repair. Crew chiefs ensure the general operability of the aircraft.

"The work ethic and dedication of these young men and women are outstanding," said Master Sgt. William Dorety, the 380th EAMXS maintenance production supervisor, deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. "I've been deployed 19 times during the 20 and a half years I've been in the Air Force. I've never seen the same level of commitment as I've seen out of these young maintainers."

The crew chiefs are responsible for overall maintenance of the KC-10.

"We have to ensure quick turnaround of the aircraft that return from a refueling mission," said Airman 1st Class Andy Ward, a 380th EAMXS crew chief, also deployed from Travis. "We usually have to have an aircraft mission ready in four hours."

"No other job compares to changing tires, maintaining the brake systems, engine
maintenance and changing the drogues, booms and light bulbs in the desert heat," said Staff Sgt. Jason J. Fitch, a KC-10 crew chief. "My team's typical day here as long, hot and sweaty."

At any given moment on the flightline, maintainers with different specialties are
working on mechanical or electronic systems on the aircraft.

A KC-10 lands. The pilots debrief the crew chiefs on the performance of the aircraft. The aircraft is refueled, engine oil is added, and the tires on the landing gear are checked. Any identified maintenance issue is resolved.

The maintainers work to ensure the aircraft is kept mission capable so they can be flown twice within a 24-hour period. When possible, there is always one aircraft that's ready to go in case of a maintenance issue with a returning aircraft.

Sometimes a problem is identified and a KC-10 is required to be mission-ready within a couple of hours before takeoff.

Hydraulic specialists may be extending the drogue, the air refueling hose capable of
refueling Navy and NATO aircraft, for a fuel pressure check. Another set of maintainers may calibrate the guidance and control system. Yet another group of maintainers may perform a pre-flight check on a KC-10 due to depart on a refueling mission.

"The pre-flight inspection is very thorough," Sergeant Dorety said. "The aircraft is inspected for flight safety and assurance of operations. The quality of training of our maintainers enables them to do the job without question."

The various technical schools range from several weeks to several months with on-the-job training to follow.

"There are so many systems you have to deal with. It can be overwhelming for someone new to the job," said Staff Sgt. Nichole Smith, a guidance and control specialist deployed from Travis.

"It is a challenge to troubleshoot in-flight problems with the guidance and control
system that cannot be duplicated on the ground," said Airman Lucio Mendoza, a guidance and control specialist deployed from McGuire AFB, N.J. "You have to keep working to resolve any problems to get the aircraft back in the air."

"There are maintainers who have worked on jets for 20 years and haven't seen
everything," said Airman 1st Class Charles Mawson, a hydraulics specialist deployed from Travis. "There is something different to fix every day."