MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Sparks fly while attempting to weld a broken aircraft part but the damage is too catastrophic to repair and a new one must be created.
A shop of 30 machinists and welders are responsible for repairing and creating these essential aircraft parts.
From troubleshooting to final fitting, the 23d Equipment Maintenance Squadron’s metals technology technicians weld, fabricate and create the metal components critical to the functioning of Moody’s aircraft.
“It’s awesome that we’re such a unique asset when it comes to fixing aircraft,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Jackson, 23d EMS aircraft metals technology craftsman. “We are only limited by our imagination.
“I’ve actually [had] a part broken into three different pieces, taken measurements of it, and made a whole new part from scratch.”
Metals technology technicians, or more commonly known as metals techs, use a computer drafting program and metal-cutting machines to create brand new parts, similar to how 3-D printers work.
Jackson said the metals technology Airmen are capable of preforming a multitude of different tasks, ranging from removing bolts to crafting crucial aircraft parts from sheet metal.
These professionals repair and create metal components critical to the success of the mission in a variety of ways while also saving the Air Force millions of dollars.
“We save [the Air Force approximately] $1 million in an average week," said Staff Sgt. James Fields, 23d EMS aircraft metals technology craftsman. “It might take us 15 minutes to [fix] a part. If [the Air Force] had to ship it somewhere else, it could take them six weeks to six months and cost anywhere between $10,000 to $100,000.”
Metals technology Airmen are capable of doing the work of two people because of the training they receive in their five-month-long technical school paired with on-the-job training.
“We’re subject matter experts on many [machines],” said Jackson. “For instance, we do the programing and cutting. In the civilian world, you have [separate] programmers and cutters, both costing $40/hour.”
Fields and Jackson agree that they are definitely the last resort when metal aircraft parts break, but from welding to creating entirely new metal parts, the metals technology shop supports nearly every agency on base.