News>Aerospace Ground Equipment: Providing the “power” in Air Power
Photos
Staff Sgt. Patrick Tomei and Senior Airmen Paisley Majewski and Diamonde Garvin, review the wiring diagrams in a technical order on a load bank before trouble shooting the electrical system, Sept. 5, 2012, Lajes Field.
. The load bank is used to test generators to ensure they can handle the power load of an aircraft. All three Airmen are Aerospace Ground Equipment journeymen assigned to the 65th Operations Support Squadron. (Photo by Lucas Silva)
Senior Airmen Paisley Majewski checks the wires on a load bank while Diamonde Garvin utilizes the technical order manual to troubleshoot, Sept. 5, 2012, Lajes Field. The load bank is used to test generators to ensure
they can handle the power load of an aircraft. Both Airmen are Aerospace Ground Equipment journeymen assigned to the 65th Operations Support Squadron. (Photo by Lucas Silva)
Senior Airman Diamonde Garvin, 65th Operations Support Squadron, Aerospace
Ground Equipment journeyman, checks the tubing for leaks on a hydraulic test stand, Sept. 5, 2012, Lajes Field. The AGE shop provides, maintains and inspects equipment necessary to get transitioning aircraft to their
destinations safely. (Photo by Lucas Silva)
Senior Airmen Paisley Majewski and Diamonde Garvin, 65th Operations Support Squadron, Aerospace Ground Equipment journeymen, check the gauges on a hydraulic test stand, Sept. 5, 2012, Lajes Field. The AGE shop provides, maintains and inspects equipment necessary to get transitioning aircraft to their destinations safely. (Photo by Lucas Silva)
by Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
9/6/2012 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- For every plane that transits through Lajes Field, the Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) crew of the 65th Operations Support Squadron provides electricity, hydraulic pressure and air pressure so the aircraft can be properly maintained and prepped for launch.
"We have over 20 pieces of equipment ranging from generators, turbine engines, light-alls, heaters, and maintenance stands," said Staff Sgt. Dalton Fleming, 65th OSS, AGE journeyman. "We provide the equipment necessary to power the aircraft in order for the proper maintenance to be conducted."
No matter the time of day, the AGE crew is equipped and ready for transitioning aircraft.
"When a plane lands, transient alert will call us with specific equipment requirements they need to run system operations and we deliver it to the aircraft," said Fleming. "Once they're done with the equipment, we pick-it up and run checks to make sure it's good to go for the next aircraft."
According to Fleming, many people believe the AGE shop only drives around generators all day, but this is far from the truth.
"We perform around 500 inspections per year and roughly 250 maintenance actions per year," said Fleming. "Every six months we're conducting either a phase-1 or phase-2 inspection of on each piece of equipment."
The phase-1 inspections consist of looking over the equipment, changing the oil and applying lubrication. The phase-2 inspections are more in-depth. All the panels are removed and they perform checks in each compartment; even the wires.
Lajes' ops tempo allows for extra opportunity for hands on training for the Airmen in AGE.
"Here at Lajes, I can actually provide one-on-one training with my Airmen," said Fleming. "I can set-up trouble shooting scenarios and really give them some 'hands-on' training with the equipment."
This team not only provides and maintains equipment necessary to get transitioning aircraft to their destinations safely; they take care of each other in the process. Fleming ensures they are a close-knit shop with tremendous camaraderie.
"If we're not playing sports, we get together and bar-b-que," said Fleming. "We also make sure families are taken care of during TDY's or deployments."
24-hours a day the AGE crew keeps Lajes Field in the fight.
After all, said Fleming, "there's no air power without ground power."
