Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review 6-3-13

Total Force Integration significant in KC-46 support
Boeing and U.S. Air Force crews complete the KC-46A Pegasus tanker’s first refueling flight following takeoff from Boeing Field in Seattle. The Boeing/Air Force test team aboard the KC-46 offloaded
1,600 pounds of fuel to an F-16 fighter from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
by Christopher Ball
Edwards AFB, Calif.
When the Air Force and Boeing
launched the KC-46 Pegasus pro-
gram the 412th Test Wing at Ed-
wards Air Force Base, Calif., was
tagged as one of the prime play-
ers in testing and validation of the
aircraft.
Named the Air Force’s Respon-
sible Test Organization, the 412th
TW had to supply aircraft and
support crew for testing at Boeing
Field International Airport in Se-
attle, Wash.
According to Lt. Col. Jennifer
Barnard, deputy commander of the
412th Maintenance Group, support-
ing the KC-46 with three dedicated
F-16s creates a support deficit at
Edwards where the remaining F-16
aircraft and support personnel do
not have the capacity to meet the
current workload.
Barnard was part of a team that
started briefing Maj. Gen. Michael
Brewer, then 412th TW command-
er, in spring of 2015 about potential tanker program—known as Milestone C—from June 2016 to August 2016 to
solutions in Washington State.
One solution was to ask for sup-
port from the Air National Guard
and the Air Force Reserve.
Barnard said they asked the Air
Force for 7,300 MPA (military per-
sonnel appropriation) days. The Air
Force agreed, basically authorizing
Edwards 20 Guard or Reserve main-
tainers per day for fiscal year 2016. will move from March 2017 to August 2017 with the 18th aircraft delivered
According to Maj. Lena Frei-
enmuth, KC-46 test, F-16 support
Air Reserve Component director,
June 3, 2016
Boeing photograph by Paul Weatherman
an MPA day is basically a guard or she was able to find that resource,” tent management.” She also said Caring for people is another key
reserve workday. “We use it to put Barnard said. the level of detail in management, to success. The Guard and Reserve
people on orders.” both at the program level and in the airmen are treated the same as ac-
Volunteers have or are project- aircraft maintenance units, has been tive duty. One example is a senior
“It’s basically how we get days in ed to come from Buckley, Colo.; tremendous. airman who recently won an award
addition to our normal two weeks a McEntire, S.C.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; from the active-duty side. “A Na-
year and one weekend a month,” ex- Nellis AFB, Nev.; Montgomery, “It’s about relationships, commu- tional Guardsman won an AFMC
plained the major’s enlisted coun- Ala.; Traux Field, Wisc., Egg Har- nity and taking care of each other,” quarterly award,” Hunter said.
terpart, SMSgt. Kevin Hunter. bor, N.J.; Joint Base Lewis-Mc- Barnard said.
Chord, Wash.; Niagara Falls, N.Y.; “No one can remember this level
Barnard said the major had to ap- Springfield, Ohio; Seymour John- Freienmuth agreed, citing an ex- of TFI (Total Force Integration”
ply a little creative recruiting to find son, S.C.; Travis AFB, Calif.; Hill ample of a senior master sergeant at Edwards prior to this,” Barnard
the right people to come here. AFB, Utah; and March Air Reserve out on the line turning wrenches. said. “In eight months of flight test-
Base, Calif. “He’s doing a lot of the training for ing (where F-16s were required) the
“Because we know there’s a the young three-levels (trainees) we KC-46 has not lost a test mission
shortage of F-16 maintainers — The Guard and Reserve volun- just got in,” she said. “He’s loving due to F-16 support — that’s in-
active duty, Reserve and Guard — teers blend in with the active duty it. We take care of people up here credible!”
Major Freienmuth came up with the and civilian personnel and rotate to from the program perspective, but
idea of asking Guard and Reserve JB Lewis-McChord based on KC- he’s down in the AMU making sure In a recent article, Air Force
units, that within the last five years 46 support requirements. There are those guys are taken care of.” Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh
had a mission conversion, for sup- three volunteers who stay at JBLM III said, “We are one Air Force.
port.” The units used to have F-16s integrated locally in AGE, Fuel Barnard added that some of the We’re committed to this idea and
but were converted to other mis- Systems and Supply. Guard and Reserve airmen that have it’s foundational to the way we
sions, such as RPA or intelligence, been turning F-16 wrenches for a present our capabilities. We’re not
she explained. Barnard said the key to success few years are easing the training going to be operationally successful
has been “creative, effective re- burden on our new F-16 crew chiefs any other way.”
“Those maintainers’ training re- cruiting with detailed and persis- that are retraining from C-130s.
cords are still good for five years, so
Boeing, Air Force adjust tanker schedule
The U.S. Air Force is moving its formal production decision on the KC-46 According to Boeing, the underlying production system remains on track,
and Boeing will have more than 18 aircraft through the factory line and in
allow additional time to implement the solution to a refueling boom loads issue various stages of final change incorporation and certification by August
identified during flight testing earlier this year. 2017. The first 18 aircraft will be equipped with refueling boom and centerline
drogue refueling capabilities as well as all other contract required capability
The Air Force also released an updated projection from Boeing for initial except WARPs. The WARP systems required to complete full contractual
KC-46 deliveries and the expected timing for delivery of the first 18 certified RAA will be delivered separately in October 2018.
tanker aircraft, a milestone known as Required Assets Available.
“Boeing continues to demonstrate its commitment to the U.S. Air Force and
Due to ongoing complexities associated with qualification and certification the tanker program with five aircraft now in test (including the first production
of the aircraft’s centerline drogue and wing-aerial refueling pod systems, and aircraft), seven aircraft in final production build, and 8 aircraft in the supply
the previously announced higher volume of change incorporation to bring the chain — up to tail number 20,” the company said in a statement. “The KC-46
first 18 aircraft up to the certification configuration, the first tanker delivery Tanker will play a vital role in America’s Air Mobility Forces providing both
global power projection and unrivaled global reach for decades to come.”
in January 2018.
Aerotech News and Review 3
www.aerotechnews.com ........ facebook.com/aerotechnewsandreview