Trading places

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Robert Hicks
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Aircrew and maintainers from the 317th Airlift Group switched places for a day to understand the impact each other has on the mission.

Aircrew learned what maintenance does to generate an aircraft for a flight and the maintainers learned the outcome of generating an aircraft when it flies and resupplies a drop zone.

"Based on the feedback I received, I think it was a success," said Capt. Daniel Oldham, 40th Airlift Squadron. "Every participant felt like they learned more about the overall mission of the 317th AG. Airmen are already wondering when the next impact day will be so they can go out to the drop zone or get a closer look at maintenance operations."

"I hear people everyday tell me how important my job is and how it impacts the mission," said Senior Airman Carlos Aheran, 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "Seeing it firsthand in the airdrop is more motivating and it inspired me to go out and do my job every day because I know what I do makes a difference in the world."

Maintainers were bused to the drop zone in Bronte, Texas, to see the end result of their hard work generating an aircraft for launch.

"The maintainers typically see aircraft takeoff and land, but they never see the in between when aircrews fly the mission," Oldham said. "At the drop zone, maintainers watched a low cost low altitude drop, one of the methods used in Afghanistan to resupply Forward Operating Bases."

On base, aircrew marshaled the aircraft for taxi, learned how to inventory tools in the consolidated tool kit office, and what the aircrew flight equipment section does to post-flight helmets. Also, aircrew saw the work maintenance performs on a C-130 in the isolation hangar and fuel cell hangar.

Click here to see video by Airman 1st Class Nancy Kasberg.