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ALC comes through for T-38 fix

  • Published
  • By Brandice Armstrong
  • 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  The T-38 Talon training jet fleet was in trouble. Tinker was there to help. After two pilots were killed in a recent T-38 crash at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, investigators discovered the T-38 aileron actuator lever, a flight control, was a contributing factor.

Ogden Air Logistics Center personnel at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, who repair the aircraft asked for help. They needed approximately 1,600 left and right aileron actuator levers immediately or senior Air Force officials would consider grounding the entire fleet, which is crucial for pilot training. Ogden ALC officials asked Oklahoma City ALC personnel July 24 to manufacture 800 left levers. Warner Robins ALC personnel at Robins AFB, Ga., and Ogden ALC personnel were manufacturing the right levers. Team Tinker began manufacturing the order, within a day of receiving the request for help. 

"This effort really exemplifies how the three ALCs, by working together as a team, can rapidly respond to almost any warfighter need," said Col. Jeffrey Sick, 76th Commodities Maintenance Group commander. "This is the way of the future and we can see it from where we sit today." 

Working around the clock and on weekends, Tinker officials agreed to produce 50 left levers by Aug. 18. Each week thereafter an additional 50 will be finished until the order of 800 levers is complete. 

"Our folks are totally dedicated," said Herman Dave Sanchez, 552nd Commodities Maintenance Squadron Accessories Division director. "We notified them of this particular project and the urgency of it and they all marched out and did their jobs. They executed to get the part prototyped and in production in record time." 

Glenn Berglan, 552nd CMMXS Local Manufacturing Flight chief, agreed. 

"This is really the stuff we do every day," he said. "It gives us the opportunity to showcase what we're about and what we can do, especially our rapid manufacturing capabilities."
Because the OC-ALC primarily supports programmed depot maintenance for aircraft including B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, C/KC-135 Stratotanker and E-3 Sentry, the Ogden's ALC's request was out of the norm. 

Mr. Sanchez said, because his unit is in high demand, it may take the 552nd CMMXS up to 30 days from when the request is received, to plan, program and start production.
Yet, for the Ogden-ALC emergency, Team Tinker processed the request almost overnight. The prototype production effort began immediately. 

Prior to Tinker's involvement, Ogden ALC personnel obtained aileron actuator levers from a contractor through the Defense Logistics Agency. Due to the technical compliance technical order at hand, Ogden ALC personnel would not be able to obtain the required 1,600 parts quick enough.