Enter the matrix: EM administers maintenance

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Greg Nash
  • 23d Wing/Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Every day, Moody's aerospace propulsion maintainers perform countless hours of maintenance on millions of dollars' worth of equipment. A group of individuals is in charge of keeping track of this maintenance and equipment.
The 23d Maintenance Operations Flight's engine management section supports their maintainer counterparts by planning, organizing and directing aerospace propulsion activities through their engine managing and monitoring practices.

"Engine management is responsible for tracking all aircraft engines assigned to the 23d Maintenance Group, here," said Griggs. "We are the main point of contact for managing and forecasting engine-related time change items and time compliance technical orders. Our role is critical to the health and readiness of all engines actively installed on aircraft and maintained on the war ready engine spare line."

EM maintains these engine assets by constantly monitoring them and ensuring they function to optimum standards which is critical.

"Attention to detail is the biggest thing we harp on," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Amanda Griggs, 23d MOF engine manager. "We don't want to incorrectly [input] any documentation because the slightest infraction can screw something up to major proportions. It's vital when we're inputting data to consolidate short and long-term forecasts of our engine fleet. When we look into our database, it's like looking into the matrix. We have to be attentive and we hold ourselves accountable to a high standard to maintain these assets."

EM ensures this readiness by conducting short and long-term schedules during daily operations. They do this to continually meet the 23d MXG scheduling deadlines and assist all engine and component related inquiries received by their office.

"We consolidate schedules to track times for engine parts and components which are extremely important," said Griggs. "We coordinate with planning and scheduling [within the EM section] and each aircraft maintenance unit on base through shared resources to give a snapshot perspective of at least three months ahead. With this, we incorporate how we can maximize work during aircraft down time while also maintaining a healthy engine fleet."

EM Airmen use computer-database systems to help view engine flight operations and performances to maintain a healthy engine fleet.

"We can process flight data [for the A-10C Thunderbolt II] using the comprehensive engine trending and diagnostics system program, which helps us monitor the health of the TF-34 engine," said Griggs. "After these files are sent to us, we upload that information into the comprehensive engine management systems program and the integrated maintenance data system. When uploaded with the integrated maintenance data system, the information can be accessed simultaneously to review both systems which reflect the tracking of the engines and maintenance performed on them."

These databases ultimately help EM to schedule preventative maintenance and required engine maintenance to support and manage all 23d MXG engines. A component of the 23d MXG is the 23d CMS propulsion flight whose jobs are made easier due to the role of EM's ability to help direct activities for their TF-34 engines.

"[Engine management] helps by keeping us up-to-date with their daily information," said Tech. Sgt. Matthew Price, 23d CMS TF-34 jet-intermediate maintenance inspection chief. "They play a big part in our ability to perform maintenance for every engine build.

"Without their documentations, we wouldn't be able to know if an engine has metal fatigue which could lead to catastrophe and material failure. Their tracking and loading of engine components is important for the health of the fleet."

According to Griggs, the constant monitoring of engine components and their work history to ensure an optimum fleet requires meticulous attention. Though the database systems may change with improvements and new capabilities, the EM's ability to consistently remain sharp allows them to not hinder their mission- to plan, schedule and organize a serviceable engine fleet.