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F119 Heavy Maintenance Center expands to meet increased workload

  • Published
  • By Ron Mullan
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  Members of the 544th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron and aerospace partner Pratt & Whitney gathered at the north end of Bldg. 3001 Mar. 11, for a ribbon cutting ceremony on a new section of workspace for the aerospace company's F119 Heavy Maintenance Center. 
   Brigadier General Judy Fedder, commander, 76th Maintenance wing, Mr. Chris Flynn, F119 Program Director, Pratt & Whitney and Ms. Lydia Cervantes, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center F119 program manager, 544th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron, did the honors. With a snip of the large ceremonial scissors, the HMC grew from 20,000 square feet to approximately 28,000 square feet. 
   While that is a significant amount of additional work space, what is more important is what it means for the future. 
   "This is more than just adding square footage on to the HMC, this represents a growth in our capability to do the work that is coming on for the F119 engine which powers the F-22A Raptor," General Fedder said. "We are seeing the leading edge of it now. We are going to be postured to do that because of our partnership with Pratt & Whitney. It means not only more work, but more high-tech work. It's enabling us to remain in the forefront of some of our latest platforms." 
   Mr. Flynn agreed that expanding the HMC at Tinker will take the partnership to a new level. 
   "I really believe this is the next step in the partnership," said Mr. Flynn. "We've been a partner on the F119 program since 2004. It's been looked at as a model for the Air Force and industry in terms of how we can work closer with the Air Force, and this is just the next evolution of our close ties with Tinker AFB." 
   In fact, he finds it hard to differentiate between Pratt & Whitney and Tinker employees. 
   "Every time I come out here I'm impressed not only with the facility but with the people," said Mr. Flynn. "I walk around here and I can't tell which one is a Pratt & Whitney worker and which one is a Tinker employee. They are working together so closely and that's the way it should be." 
   The expansion will prepare the HMC for future workload when F119 engines begin hitting the 2150 Total Accumulation Cycle, which refers to the number of flying hours and the number of power settings used on each engine. 
   "As the Core modules come in, we will remove components to the fifth integrally bladed rotor and determine what repairs are required," said Ms. Cervantes. "We have received our first 2150 Core module from the field and are conducting analytical condition inspections on the components." 
   The renovation project was completed in six months and according to Ms. Cervantes, it was a total team effort between Pratt & Whitney and the Air Force. 
   "The Integrated Product Team met several times to review and approve the design of the new space," Ms. Cervantes said. "It was a real team effort. Mechanics and engineers from both the Air Force and Pratt & Whitney brought their expertise to the table and helped set up the shops." 
   Other organizations within the 76th Maintenance Wing had a hand in setting up the new work space. 
   "The 76th Maintenance Support Group and the 76th Maintenance Support Squadron helped with the steel and the hoist," said Ms. Cervantes. "It was a great effort, a team effort and I appreciate everyone who helped."