Airmen maintain life-saving aircraft

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente
  • CJTF-HOA Public Affairs
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti --   While Americans stateside are feeling the autumn breeze and seeing the colors of the leaves change, more than 1,800 coalition and U.S. servicemembers are enduring the extreme heat of Djibouti.

This heat can take its toll on the human body, but for more than 30 Airmen assigned to the 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron and deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., the high temperature, sand and dirt can also wreak havoc on their HC-130P aircraft.

Maintainers assigned to 81st ERQS are responsible for giving the 1965-model helicopter-refueling aircraft some around-the-clock care, in support of search and rescue missions in the Horn of Africa.

"Our unit's mission here is to support Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa by providing combat search and rescue capability in the area of responsibility," said Maj. Octavio Echevarria, 81st ERQS commander.

CJTF-HOA's area of responsibility is two-thirds the size of the United States. Servicemembers are spread across the Horn of Africa to prevent conflict, promote regional stability and protect coalition interest in order to prevail against extremism.

"We stand ready to launch aircraft and support the recovery of personnel downrange who are performing missions in support of the CJTF-HOA," said Major Echevarria, a Tampa, Fla., native.

In a deployed environment, the maintainers are aligned with the operations personnel.

The unit shares a common goal of maintaining a constant state of preparedness for the aircraft and personnel, because both must be ready to launch at a moment's notice to assist in the recovery of task force personnel, the major said.

Since their arrival, the unit has remained proficient despite the arduous maintenance the aircraft require due to their age and the harsh effects of the weather.

"We've remained mission capable to save lives and perform combat search and rescue," said 1st Lt. Lisa Stokey, a Brooksville, Fla., native and 81st ERQS maintenance officer-in-charge. "When aircraft have encountered maintenance problems, our professionals have used their skills to minimize the downtime. Our Hercs are workhorses, and they continue to get the mission done."

Problems for the maintainers, who encompass a large area of expertise, range from electronic and hydraulic issues, to engine-specific problems, such as flame-outs and propeller leaks.

"We have some of the same problems at home station, but they are more intensified over here," said Master Sgt. Michael McMullan, 81st ERQS production supervisor from Valdosta, Ga. "The heat will get to some of the electrical components causing various problems. Sand and dirt can get into every crack and crevice causing hydraulic seals to go bad, resulting in leaks and ruptures."

To overcome these obstacles, the unit must work together as a team.

"First we assess the situation and gather all the facts," said Sergeant McMullan. "We then use our training, experience and technical orders to formulate a solution. Finally, we test the solution, implement the explanation, and move forward to produce huge results on all fronts."

To avoid major problems, maintainers conduct several types of inspections, such as, pre-flight and basic post-flight inspections.

"Finding a small problem early can make the difference between having to change an engine or a prop and causing the aircraft to go off alert status," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Gillespie, 81st ERQS aerospace propulsion craftsman.

Despite the workload theses conditions create, the maintenance crews are fans of the HC-130Ps and take such an interest in the aircraft they support that they have traced the history of the planes back to the Vietnam era. They have also given the aircraft nicknames such as "The Beast."

The C-130 Hercules first took to the sky in 1953. The HC-130Ps have been in the air since 1964. Similar to the maintenance of a car, the work on an aircraft increases as the aircraft ages, said Segeant McMullan. But he still feels these aircraft are in great shape.

said the master sergeant. "I hope I work and look that good when I'm 42," said the master sergeant.