Military News

Moody AFB Engine Mechanics Cross Train on Different Engines

By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
Air Force Link

July 28, 2010 - Air Force aircraft engine mechanics fall into a single career field, but they are usually limited to repairing the one type of engine on which they originally trained.

Now, with the opening of the 23rd Component Maintenance Squadron's new engine repair facility, mechanics here will have the opportunity to work on different engines, a change that was implemented in May 2009. The facility will repair the engines of the A-10C Thunderbolt II, the HC-130 P/N King and the HH-60G Pave Hawk, thereby merging the work of these mechanics.

"The new engine facility gives us a chance to merge the repair of these three engines into one building," said Senior Master Sgt. David Smith, the 23rd Component Maintenance Squadron propulsion flight chief. "We are able to train mechanics from the same career field and allow them to become comfortable with the other engines we have on base."

Before the new policy, Airmen who were trained to work on a specific engine were committed to it their entire career.

"The change allows someone that has worked on an A-10 engine to be able to switch and work on a C-130 or HH-60 engine if manning is low," said Tech. Sgt. Charles Carpentier, the 23rd CMS combat search and rescue section chief. "Having shops separated kept mechanics from being able to learn about a different engine, but with all of them being (located) in one building, (it) helps the learning process."

Sergeant Carpentier will soon provide training for all mechanics who are switching to different engines to teach them how to troubleshoot problems.

"The training we give these Airmen helps them learn the 'ins and outs' of the other engines," Sergeant Carpentier said. "When switching to a different engine, our Airmen need to be able to troubleshoot a problem without having to disassemble the entire engine."

"It's done by actually going out to an engine and doing hands-on training," he added.

With the facility just opening, the training will slowly start to increase, once the switch from the old shops to the new engine facility is complete.

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