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The maintenance and operations linchpin

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brandon Shapiro
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  When it comes to equipment safety and reliability, no one understands the ins and outs of proper maintenance better than an "AGE Ranger."

These "rangers," aerospace ground equipment gurus, are always caked in grease and covered in sweat as a result of their hard labor. They are the Air Force's equivalent of equipment surgeons; they diagnose, dissect, and repair that which is broken.

Whether it be periodical inspections, a time compliance technical order fix, or the repair of a Hobart power unit's tow bar, making sure that each and every piece of equipment is fully operational is their be all-end-all objective.

"Making sure that our equipment is properly maintained is critical," said Airman1st Class Michael Watkins, 6th Maintenance Squadron AGE technician. "If the Hobart's tow-bar that I am currently repairing was left as-is it could potentially cause an injury or damage an aircraft."

AGE equipment is the quintessential linchpin between aircraft maintenance and operations. From light-alls to aircraft towbars to maintenance repair stands, without the vigilance of these crafty AGE veterans, it's easy to say flying would cease to exist.