Clean Aircraft vital to flying mission

  • Published
  • By Seinor Airman Whitney Stork
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- --  Maintenance Airmen from around the base join together several times a month to complete a mission essential task that takes days to complete.

Airmen from the 86th Aircraft maintenance squadron and 86th Maintenance Squadron are tasked out more than twice a month to wash C-130J Super Hercules to ensure there is no corrosion developing on the aircraft.

"One flight is asked to cover a shift a month," said Staff Sgt. Rozilynn Breedlove-Stone, Precision Measurement Equipment Lab flight administration. "It's a 12-hour shift for each aircraft they're called out to wash."

Each wash takes a total of 48 hours from start to finish with a team of 10 Airmen per shift. There are two shifts each day comprised of nine airmen from 86th MXS and one airman from 86th AMXS. The night shift is made up of the exact opposite with nine airmen from 86th AMXS and one airman from 86th MXS.

"We get a safety brief, wash suit, face mask and double eye protection to ensure safety during the wash," said Senior Airman Todd-Henri Rath, PMEL technician. "Each person is assigned a different section of the plane to wash."

Aircraft washing is a vital part of the flying mission. If the aircraft were not washed they would begin to corrode and cause damage yielding it unsafe to operate.

"Aircraft washes enable the technician to remove dirt and debris from the aircraft skin and critical areas," said Tech. Sgt. Seneca Williams, 86th Maintenance Squadron C-130J Super Hercules inspection maintenance coordinator. "Dirt and debris can cause corrosion to the aircraft skin and major structural components. Corrosion is the major cause for structural and system degradation, maintenance down-time, and reduced service life. In order to extend aircraft service life the aircraft is set on a 180 day wash schedule with a corrosion inspection immediately following the wash."

In fiscal year 2012, there were 30 aircraft that had to be washed taking more than 1,400 hours of manpower to complete. For each tasking, the squadrons try to use different Airmen so everyone can get the experience and understanding of how much work goes into each aircraft.

"It gives you a sense of appreciation for your job," said Staff Sgt. Brian Kisely, 86th Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "Some squadrons don't ever get to see or touch the planes so it's a good opportunity for them to go out and see the way the rest of the maintenance squadron's work."