Workers in B-52 PDM get a lift, new platforms Published July 18, 2008 By Capt. Jarod Castaneda 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- For the past 40 years, the B-52 programmed depot maintenance line at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center has used maintenance platforms around aircraft much like the erector sets many children played with, but on June 20, Brig. Gen. Judith Fedder, 76th Maintenance Wing Commander, presided over a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first new set of work platforms. The improved maintenance platforms have been part of the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group's transformation vision for more than a decade. The 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, responsible for the B-52 PDM line, will have three more sets of maintenance platforms, each costing more than $2.5 million arriving next fiscal year. "These state of the art platforms are a valuable improvement and come equipped with pneumatic air, vacuum, hydraulics, electrical outlets, and dramatically improved lighting," said Randall Sneed, B-52 Production Flight chief. Not only do the maintenance platforms come with state of the art features, they are also improve safety and the mechanics' quality of life. "We are making some critical key investments in our PDM lines...when you think about the old maintenance platforms that have been around for what seems like forever, it is one of the most long awaited and most anticipated improvements that we have had on our agenda," said Mr. Kevin O'Connor, deputy director of the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group. The new maintenance platforms come equipped with a crane to hoist heavy avionics equipment that is removed and re-installed in the tail of each aircraft. With the old maintenance platforms, technicians had to carry bulky equipment as heavy as 75 pounds up and down rickety stairs. The maintenance platforms are fabricated with electrical and lighting fixtures that are weatherproof and are also approved for fuel cell maintenance. This is meant to improve the safety of the technicians as well as the facilities where the aircraft maintenance occurs. The new maintenance platforms are also designed so that the technicians' tool boxes will be hoisted up by forklift and remain on the platform for the duration of the in-dock maintenance period. This decreases the amount of time technicians have to walk up and down stairs to retrieve tools and will allow technicians to spend more of their time performing maintenance actions. "We (OC-ALC) are continuing to do things better and making ourselves more competitive so that we can better support the warfighter," said General Fedder. The supply lines for air, vacuum, hydraulics, electrical, and lighting are ergonomically built-in throughout the platform, significantly minimizing tripping hazards in the production area. When dealing with aircraft, foreign objects are always a major concern. The old work maintenance platforms created FO every time they are installed and removed. The floors are made of plywood which splintered easily and needed repair immediately following every installation and removal. The new maintenance platforms are made of metal which will withstand the elements and drastically reduce the set up, clean up and repairs. "The B-52 members of the worksite analysis committee will coordinate with the engineer who is managing the procurement of the new maintenance platforms. These employees will help inspect the new platforms and identify any potential hazards or shortfalls, allowing us to provide the best possible product to our center of gravity--the mechanics," said Curtis Walker, 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group VPP coordinator,