JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Under dark skies the fall weather nips at bare noses with a chilling 55 degrees, and while most people are snuggled warmly in a deep sleep, it becomes hustle-hustle mode for the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
Even as most service members at Joint Base Charleston finish up their work day, this team continues to stand post under a blistering hot sun with shirts clinging drenched in sweat, performing task after task toward the overall mission support.
From landings in the early morning to sending them off hours later, this team encompasses more than 800 service men and women dedicated to ensuring the aircraft maintenance is done correctly at JB CHS-Air Base.
The 437 AMXS takes the lead in providing top-quality service and quick turnaround times in maintenance for 56 Charleston C-17s.
"The turnaround time just really depends on the mission for that aircraft," said Master Sgt. Rachel Conaway, production superintendent of the 'Blue team' attached to the 437 AMXS. "If it is just a local fly around time then we can get them in and out within four hours. But if the planes are just coming back from a mission support, it could take up to eight hours."
A local fly around is when the aircraft doesn't leave the state and conducts training, local missions or other tactics. Real-world mission support is when the aircraft leaves the state or country for example, like that of the humanitarian relief support in Haiti.
"The daily flying, whether for [area of responsibility] support of the war effort or for local flying to maintain aircrew proficiency levels, takes a synchronized team of technicians. The team is comprised of both active duty and Reserve personnel from the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the Maintenance Squadron and the Maintenance Operations Squadron," said Chief Master Sergeant Derrell Wells, 437 AMXS superintendent.
"We all work well together in direct support of the mission," Sergeant Wells continued. "Safety and quality is a top priority! The Maintenance Group does an impressive job of taking care of the mission and putting the warfighter, and the versatile C-17 aircraft exactly where it is needed....in the fight!"
Teamwork and communication prove essential with this team as one job could not be performed without the completion of another. For example, without an Airman in the plane turning a gauge to raise the aircraft, the three Airmen on the ground waiting could not replace that aircraft's tire.
JB CHS-Air Base is unique because unlike most Air Force bases, it shares the landing strip with domestic flights--being that it's the only landing strip located in the Charleston area. The 437 AMXS not only services their own birds, they give some tender, loving care to those from other bases that may require maintenance or refueling.
Unfortunately, just like anywhere else, there is always paperwork that must be completed. Logging the man hours, the parts and maintenance performed as well as logging scheduled maintenance for the next day.
From start to finish, each member of the team works within their technical specialty, fanning out to cover an entire aircraft, head to toe--conducting full-spot inspections, replacing fixtures on the plane, changing panels, electrical work or even changing tires, as there are many areas to cover on the 174-foot long plane. Each team, Blue and Gold, works swiftly sending off each plane fully mission capable.
The C-17 aircraft is 174 feet (53m) long and has the wingspan of 170 feet (52m) and is powered by four fully reversible F117-PW-100 turbofan engines with a 40,400-pound thrust. The aircraft only requires three crewmembers; pilot, copilot and a loadmaster and mainly operates as a cargo plane, lifting cargo close to an area of responsibility during a time of need, such as a 70-ton M1 Abrams tank, armored vehicles, as well as palletized cargo. The cargo compartment is 88 feet long, most of the planes length, and can carry the maximum load of 585,000 pounds.
"We have a lot of hardworking people out there that make this mission possible," said Sergeant Conaway. "Our squadron would not be as successful as we are if it wasn't for their dedication."
To view photos of Charleston maintainers in action,
click here.