Photograph By Grasp Sgt. Patrick Evenson | U.S. Air Pressure Employees Sgt. Tristan Grigsby, middle, a C-130H Hercules maintainer,…… learn extra learn extra Photograph By Grasp Sgt. Patrick Evenson | U.S. Air Pressure Employees Sgt. Tristan Grigsby, middle, a C-130H Hercules maintainer, assigned to the Superior Airlift Ways Coaching Heart, Missouri Air Nationwide Guard, is skilled on C-130J programs by Airmen with the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air Nationwide Guard, at Louisville Air Nationwide Guard Base, Kentucky, Could 3, 2023. Throughout the two week coaching, Grigsby and Senior Grasp Sgt. Ryan Breyfogle, Plane Upkeep Superintendent, with the AATTC, realized J-model fundamentals similar to energy on checklists, fueling operations, plane towing, working radios, and common hassle capturing. (U.S. Air Nationwide Guard photograph by Senior Grasp Sgt. Ryan Breyfogle) see much less | View Picture Web page
Upkeep Airmen with Missouri’s Superior Airlift Ways Coaching Heart traveled to Kentucky lately, to acquire plane conversion coaching from a unit they’ve an extended historical past of partnership with.
Over the primary 20 years of the twenty first century, the 123rd Airlift Wing and 139th Airlift Wing, from the Kentucky and Missouri Air Nationwide Guard cast a robust bond as sister models attributable to each working the C-130H Hercules plane throughout Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This brotherhood wasn’t restricted to simply the aircrew however the upkeep Airmen as properly.
Nevertheless, in 2021 the 123rd upgraded to the C-130J ensuing within the two models now not being suitable to deploy collectively.
This didn’t spell the tip of the 2 models relationship with one another although. By means of the AATTC, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the models nonetheless had a technique to take part with one another in coaching and workout routines.
Established in 1982, the AATTC aimed to offer superior coaching to mobility aircrew members, enhancing their expertise and readiness. Over time, the AATTC has turn out to be a significant coaching hub, serving over 600 college students yearly throughout its varied programs. Its employees includes members from the Air Nationwide Guard, Air Pressure Reserves, and Lively Obligation Air Pressure, all united of their mission to make sure the survival and effectiveness of aircrews by means of their coaching.
Initially specializing in the C-130H mannequin, the AATTC expanded its curriculum to many different mobility plane, together with the C-130J in 2002. Since then J-model models have turn out to be the varsity home’s largest buyer, requiring further coaching to the traditionally C-130H centric upkeep crews.
Thus result in Senior Grasp Sgt. Ryan Breyfogle, Plane Upkeep Superintendent, and Employees Sgt. Tristan Grigsby to journey to the 123rd AW in Louisville, Kentucky for two-weeks of intensive C-130J coaching.
For 2 weeks, the upkeep Airmen of the 123rd AW, devoted themselves to instructing Grigsby and Breyfogle the intricacies of the J-model. They shared their experiences, classes realized, and finest practices.
The aircraft could look the identical from the surface however the upgrades on the within make it unattainable for maintainers to work on the plane with out coaching.
“The H and J are fully totally different animals,” Breyfogle stated. “Maintainers should get certified on all J programs attributable to laptop upgrades that make the only duties similar to turning on energy difficult.”
The whole plane has been upgraded from the previous analog gauges and guide mechanical switches that have been on the H mannequin, to digital screens and contact display switches.
For the reason that H-model is so totally different from the J-model, the AATTC workforce wanted to be taught the basics similar to energy on checklists, fueling operations, plane towing, working radios, and common hassle capturing.
“These duties set the muse for what our workforce must assist the AATTC programs,” Breyfogle stated. “Annually our AATTC upkeep workforce will return to Kentucky for recertifications on key duties, in addition to persevering with constructing what has already been realized.”
The maintainers with the AATTC are a small and distinctive workforce which might be uncovered to just about each mobility airframe taking part in AATTC programs. They don’t have the time or manpower to be certified on each airframe, nonetheless their objective is to be proficient on the three most typical plane that come by means of the varsity home – the C130H, C130J, and the C17 Globemaster III. Preliminary coaching for the C17 will start in 2024.
“This program will take years to perform however the finish consequence will probably be enormously helpful to the Mobility Air Pressure fleet as a complete,” Breyfogle stated. “We should self-support as a lot as attainable. The extra data our workforce has, reduces the probabilities of college students lacking very important coaching.”
Upkeep conversion coaching is important to assist prepare the MAF group. Having C-130J coaching, AATTC maintainers can now effectively assist and serve the J-model group higher, permitting extra aircrew members to navigate by means of the AATTC’s simulated hostile setting, producing extra graduates and finally permitting a rise in war-fighting effectiveness and survivability of mobility forces.