Mobility Airman profile: Fairchild NCO supports KC-135 maintenance ops in Kyrgyzstan

Published March 17, 2011
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The work of a crew chief "is never done" if you ask nearly any aircraft maintenance Airman who has served as one. With the KC-135R Stratotanker, it possibly requires even more diligence by the crew chief to orchestrate its readiness since it's an airframe more than 50 years old.

For Staff Sgt. Michael Overman though, a KC-135 crew chief deployed with the 376th Expeditionary Maintenance Group from the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., is just another day supporting the air refueling mission from the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.

"I start the day off working out at the gym," Sergeant Overman said in a news report by 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. "Next I go to work and turn fuel into freedom by recovering, servicing and launching KC-135 aircraft."

Before every KC-135 launch, 376th EMXG Airmen like Sergeant Overman make sure the more than 130-foor-long tanker is ready to go. As a crew chief, he makes sure the whole aircraft he's assigned to is cared for every day. He's required to know "a little about every system on the jet."

"After inspecting, servicing and repairing the KC-135 aircraft and seeing it take off, I am confident it is ready to provide gas to a bomber or fighter that will support our troops down range," Sergeant Overman said in the deployed news report.

The official Air Force job description for a crew chief states that maintainers like Sergeant Overman advise on problems maintaining, servicing and inspecting aircraft and they use technical data to diagnose and solve maintenance problems on aircraft systems. Crew chiefs also troubleshoot and maintain aircraft structures, systems, components and support equipment. They also supervise and perform aircraft and component inspections and interpret inspection findings and determine adequacy of corrective actions.

Furthermore, in his job, Sergeant Overman inspects and checks components for clearances, tolerances, proper installation and operation and inspects and operates powered and non-powered aerospace ground equipment, identifies aircraft corrosion for prevention and correction, and reviews maintenance forms, aircraft records and reports to ensure complete documentation.

Sergeant Overman's work is among several maintenance specialties who maintain the KC-135 for deployed operations. There are KC-135 crew chiefs and Airmen specializing in instrument and flight control maintenance, communications and navigation, hydraulics, aerospace propulsion, fuels, electrical and environmental systems and aero repair. Then who ensure the general operability of the aircraft.

Sergeant Overman said he is proud to serve in the Air Force and on deployment, adding that he knows the aircraft he "serviced, inspected and repaired on a daily basis plays a vital part in the safety of our troops while also aiding the fight down range."

On serving in the Air Force he said in the report, "As a child, I always wanted to work on airplanes and the Air Force allows me to do that while serving my country proudly. It doesn't get any better than that."

The Transit Center at Manas was activated in December 2001 when coalition forces deployed to Manas International Airport and began supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the International Security Assistance Force after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the 376th AEW fact sheet states. The base continues to promote regional stability in Central Asia.

(376th AEW Public Affairs contributed to this report.)