By
SQNLDR Christopher Ward
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The
view of the left engines of a Herc on operation in the Middle
East.
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SINCE
starting air lift operations in the Middle East in February, the
RAAF C-130H and C-130J models have lifted more than 8 million
pounds of cargo and 8000 passengers in more than 1100 sorties.
As well, 639 medical evacuations have been completed in more than
2100 flying hours.
But the single most impressive statistic is how many sorties were
flown before one had to be cancelled for maintenance reasons –
1144.
The two C-130s occupy a small part of a cramped aircraft parking
area at a Middle East base, but have carried a disproportionate
amount of the cargo in racking up a remarkable maintenance record
and an enviable and highly professional reputation in extreme
climatic and high-threat conditions.
Wing Commander Don Sutherland, Air Lift Task Group Commander,
said the achievement was a great team effort.
“I think this run of over 1100 sorties will last a long time,
across many operations and aircraft types – it will take
a lot of beating,” WGCDR Sutherland said.
At a recent United States Central Command media conference a US
Air Force three-star General hailed the record as a “fantastic
effort by our Coalition partners” and said he wished the
USAF C-130s could achieve a similar feat.
The third rotation of maintainers was disappointed to see the
first sortie “dropped”, but flying safety and professionalism
were not to be compromised.
The run of 1144 sorties is an outstanding figure given that the
first rotation had, for a time, been required to split its small
maintenance detachment into two groups while the Hercs operated
from different airfields.
The ability to sustain operations in this fashion speaks volumes
for their flexibility and the operational focus.
Preventative maintenance to deal with the extreme heat, sand and
high work rate is behind the Herculean performance.
Maintenance personnel – who wore ice vests while working
during the blistering summer – developed a schedule to flush
out air-conditioning packs to keep passengers and crew cool and
to prevent premature component failure.
Extra inspections of filters and engine compressor washes enabled
engines to maintain full power under heavy loads in extreme heat.
Although they have returned home, members of the first and second
rotation, from RAAF Richmond’s No. 36 Squadron, continue
to support the deployed maintainers in the third rotation.
Squadron Leader Dave Blacklock, 36SQN Senior Engineering Officer,
said Australian-based members provided occasional care packages
for their mates and had been training the next rotation.
They also had passed on the lessons learnt by the first two rotations,
continued to be the authority for Maintenance Interval Extensions,
and liaised with the Joint Ammunition and Logisitics Organisation
and Joint Movements Group for the effective use of the sustainment
flights and forecasting of spares requirements.
SQNLDR Blacklock said the more senior maintainers had experience
at working at deeper-level maintenance tasks that involved troubleshooting
and a detailed knowledge of the aircraft systems.
Accordingly, they provided a technical expertise that was often
called upon by deployed elements.
