Maintaining the war machine: The 319th Maintenance Group sustains the fight by keeping the KC-135 working

  • Published
  • By Tim Rodenberger
  • Public Affairs
Grand Forks AFB --  Before the crew chiefs make their final checks or the flight crews make their way to the flightline, the KC-135s at Grand Forks Air Force Base must undergo extensive safety tests and maintenance before the plane is considered flyable. 

Checking the calibration of the switches in the landing gear to ensure the gear remains level and inspecting the fuel injectors for wear and tear are some of the numerous tests and maintenance checks the maintainers of the 319th Maintenance Group conduct on a daily basis. The Airmen keep the KC-135s in working order to keep the pilots and crew chiefs safe while allowing them to help accomplish the mission. 

"Grand Forks AFB's maintenance squadrons have really stepped up to keep these tests up to date," said Master Sgt. John Weatherly of the Air Mobility Command Test and Evaluation Squadron, on temporary duty from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. Sergeant Weatherly and the 319th hydraulic maintainers conducted tests on a new hydraulic actuator responsible for alerting the pilots if the landing gear was level or not. The maintainers jacked a KC-135 several feet off the ground, opening and closing the landing gear to test for durability in the new actuator. 

Meanwhile, in another hangar, jet mechanics work on another KC-135 to inspect the jet fuel injectors for wear and tear. They carefully removed the old injectors and replaced them with new ones and conducted an engine test. "It's a cool sensation to see and feel the whole aircraft shake from all the power," said Tech Sergeant Michael Harder as he and others prepped a newly assembled engine for a test run. 

On the flightline, maintainers wait on standby in the event they are needed for last minute repairs as the flight crew and crew chiefs make final preparations for flight. In the event of an unexpected need for maintenance, they will spring into action and quickly asses the situation and repair the problem as quickly and effectively as possible so the flight may proceed as planned. These tests and routines are common sights for maintainers, however, crucial for the KC-135s to operate effectively and safely. 

The 319 MXG Airmen experience a high deployment tempo because they are in high demand around the world in all major operations. "We deploy a lot, about four to six months a year," said jet mechanic Staff Sgt. Chad Easterday. "We usually work 12 hour shifts for four days, then get four days off," Sergeant Easterday added. Working in weather ranging from the heat of July to the 40 below zero temperatures of winter, the maintainers at the 319 MXG maintain a constant state of readiness and excellence. 

The more than 32,000 flight hours for 2005 or achieving more than four years free of class-A accident is due in no small part to the maintainers of the group, maintaining the KC-135s to a condition of excellence. 

"The reputation and the accomplishments of the group are heard of beyond North Dakota before I was named commander," said Col Raymond Corcoran, commander 319 MXG. Colonel Corcoran explained the quality of any group is an ongoing process of "going in great and coming out better," and how this task would be "difficult" due to the "high quality" of accomplishments by the group leaving the group in a high state of readiness and quality for years to come.