If it’s in the air, maintenance put it there

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Hehnly
  • 911th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PITTSBURGH IAP ARS --  Almost everyone at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station is familiar with the sight of a C-130 Hercules in the air. However, few know the amount of hard work that goes into maintaining the aircraft, as those in the 911th Maintenance Group.
 
The men and women who perform maintenance on the 911th Airlift Wing's seven C-130 Hercules aircraft make it possible for the 911th to support airlift missions in both peacetime and wartime situations.

"All the crews here do a great job at maintaining the aircraft and helping us achieve our rate," said Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Dunn, superintendent, 911th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

In fiscal year 2011, the 911 AW had the third highest mission capable rate of the Air Force Reserve Command's C-130H2 fleet.

The mission capable rate is the best-known yardstick for measuring a unit's performance. It shows Pittsburgh's overall reliability rate in performing its assigned missions.

The responsibility of keeping the aircraft completely functional and ready to fly falls on the shoulders of the crew chiefs and their teams.

"Pittsburgh has some of the oldest C-130 aircraft in the inventory and we still maintain high numbers," said Chief Dunn. "The guys did a phenomenal job to get the '78 models to where they are."

Several of the crew chiefs have been working on the same aircraft since the wing's '86 model C-130s were replaced by the current fleet of '78 models, more than four years ago.

"Planes don't fly forever unless someone fixes them," said Lt. Dustin Pope, maintenance officer, 911th Maintenance Squadron. "Part of the reason for our benchmark standards is the people here. It's the unit dynamics."

Part of the unit's dynamic is the friendly rivalry that exists between the different crew chiefs to have their plane be the "Top Flyer." The top flyer is the plane that has the most flying hours.

"It's like a race; a competition between the crew chiefs," said Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Sokolick of the 911 Maintenance Operations Flight.

Planes fly based on scheduled or unscheduled maintenance, but if the teams push to always have their aircraft ready the chances of their plane being the top flyer increases.
Currently the top flyer bragging rights go to the crew of Aircraft 813, which recently had its aircraft become the first of the 911th's to hit 16,000 flying hours.

"It was always a goal of mine to be the top flyer," said Tech Sgt. Jay Wasko, crew chief, 911th AMXS. "We are proud of this aircraft, and it takes a group effort to keep it rolling."
Aircraft 813's track record of reliability puts it almost 500 hours ahead of the other 911th AW aircraft.

For it to achieve that milestone the aircraft obviously is mission capable, Chief Dunn said.

The 911th AW's above standard mission capable rate however, is not due to a single crew's contributions. It is achieved through the hard work and dedication of all the maintainers in the 911th Maintenance Group, who keep the planes ready to meet Air Force needs.

"We're here for the airplanes and they're here for us," said Lt. Pope. "They are truly the bread and butter of the Air Force."