76th celebrates KC-135 success

Published Sept. 30, 2010
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group exceeded its KC-135 Stratotanker production goal for fiscal 2010 by producing 55 aircraft, the highest number in 18 years.

A celebration commemorating the accomplishment will be held Oct. 4.

The event will include recognition for the team, a luncheon and KC-135 programmed depot maintenance tour. The affair is expected to attract several high-ranking Air Force officials, including Air Force Materiel Commander Gen. Donald Hoffman. State and community leaders are also expected to attend.

"It's a big deal because we're returning airplanes back to the warfighter faster," said Col. Doug Cato, 76th AMXG commander. "We're increasing KC-135 aircraft availability to Air Mobility Command, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units.

"Think about that," Colonel Cato said. "This is an Eisenhower-era airplane, so it's 50-plus years old and operates in all sorts of environments worldwide, and yet we're maintaining it and reducing the number of days in which we maintain the airplane. It's through the support and hard work of our work force that we can have this great achievement."

Roughly a year-and-a-half ago, the Secretary of the Air Force decided the Air Force should do more aircraft programmed depot maintenance work organically. By sending the work to a contractor, the government was spending approximately an extra $2 million per aircraft.

"Over the course of 55 airplanes, it adds up to a pretty significant amount of money," Colonel Cato said. "So, it's about delivering on our promise to the customers while driving cost savings."

Prior to the secretary's decision, the aircraft maintenance group produced 46 to 48 aircraft a year.

"We've worked a lot of process improvements over the past year and reduced flow days from fiscal 2009 at 224 flow days and the last 10 aircraft we were at 187.4 flow days. That's about a 36 day reduction in flow time from fiscal 2009 to 2010," Colonel Cato said. "Flow-day reduction is important to meet increased organic inputs and improved aircraft availability."

In fiscal 2011, the aircraft maintenance group is scheduled to do 58 aircraft; and, in fiscal 2012, 64 aircraft.

But, it's not a solo effort.

The colonel said it couldn't have been achieved without personnel who work the KC-135 PDM line, are in acquisition, supply, aircraft maintenance, and even the 72nd Air Base Wing and other support agencies who sustain the PDM line.

"That's really what this is about over the fourth of October," Colonel Cato said. "We're thanking that team for their hard work, for getting from 48 aircraft up to 55."