SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (AFPN) –
As the fires in California continue to threaten lives and property, maintainers from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group ensure that the modular airborne fire fighting system-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft are ready to fly and drop fire retardant on time and on target.
When it comes to getting the C-130s off the ground and to where they are needed the most, 302nd AEG maintainers rely on teamwork and dedication to keep the planes flying.
"When we get a call, they tell us what the problem [with the aircraft] is, and we go out and check it out," said Airman 1st Class Emmanuel Perez "Once the problem is addressed, we get the plane back on the flight line and ready to go."
Long before a C-130 departs for an aerial firefighting mission, maintenance Airmen are on scene to ensure that the aircraft is ready to fly.
"Maintenance personnel start their day one to two hours before the aircraft crew arrives," said Tech. Sgt. James Hudson, with the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing." They inspect the plane to prepare it for the crew chief to take [the aircraft]."
Even after the day's missions have concluded, the Airmen make certain that the C-130s are ready for the following day's mission.
"After the missions are over, maintenance personnel will stay to check over the planes to make sure there are no issues needing attention that could prevent the aircraft from its next mission," Sergeant Hudson said. "[After the fire fighting operations, maintainers] also prep[are] the aircraft for downtime storage."
Prior to beginning work on any aircraft, technicians spend numerous hours learning about the aircraft, inside and out. Some of the instruction comes from technical manuals and the rest is handed down from the more experienced technicians during on-the-job training.
Technical school for aircraft maintenance is about 11 weeks, followed by OJT along with other training, according to Sergeant Hudson.
Sergeant Hudson also adds that the newest technicians train on various scenarios in order to become proficient and confident about working on the aircraft, and more experienced maintainers monitor to make sure the job is getting done correctly.
"New technicians go through an interview-type process to [become proficient maintainers] including learning how to troubleshoot during a wide variety of scenarios, and that's when the experienced technicians [guide them] to teach them what they know," Sergeant Hudson said.
Even though Airman Perez and Sergeant Hudson may spend many hours on the flight line working on mechanical issues that may arise during the course of a flying day, they know that what they are doing is important to the citizens of California affected by the wildfires.
"It's an immense feeling of satisfaction, your putting in twelve to fourteen hours a day, Airman Perez said. "You go home, you're beat up, you're tired, but it's not just a job. You're actually keeping the quality of life for the people of California intact. At the end of the day, it's a great feeling."
"We're here to support any natural disasters or anything that arises stateside," Sergeant Hudson said. "We're here for the public and anywhere they need us."
The 302nd AEG comprises eight Air Force MAFFS-capable C-130 aircraft operating out of McClellan Airfield, and Navy Reserve and Marine Corps helicopter units operating out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
The 302nd AEG aircraft units include three Air National Guard units -- the 145th Airlift Wing from Charlotte, N.C.; the 146th Airlift Wing from Channel Islands ANGS; and the 153rd Airlift Wing from Cheyenne, Wyo. -- and one Air Force Reserve unit -- the 302nd Airlift Wing from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
The 302nd AEG provides unique capabilities and is part of a unified military support effort of U.S. Northern Command to provide assistance to the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Forestry and Protection and the National Interagency Fire Center.
USNORTHCOM continues to closely monitor the California wildfires to anticipate additional requests for Department of Defense assistance to local, federal, and state civil authorities and will launch as many missions as officials battling the wildfires require.