Another Team Tyndall assist to Allies

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A Transport Canada Dash-8 100 series aircraft assigned to Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program was returned to service May 6 after quick repair work from the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group contractor, King Aerospace, Inc.

Approached by de Havilland Aircraft Company of the Bombardier Inc. May 5 to provide maintenance support on the Canadian aircraft, the 325th Fighter Wing, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron and the 53rd WEG subsequently agreed to allow the aircraft to stop at Tyndall Air Force Base and use the E-9A support facilities and equipment to effect the repairs.

The D-8 aircraft has the same airframe type as the 53rd WEG's E-9A and is currently being used by the U.S. State Department in New Orleans for monitoring the oil spill according to Lt. Col. J. D. Lee, 53rd WEG deputy commander.

The D-8 is set up with special equipment to monitor and predict the path of the oil. Its aircraft system is configured for pollution, ice and marine security surveillance and reconnaissance and is capable of operating during day or night in all weather conditions according to James Reed, Defense Contract Management Agency Quality Assurance specialist.

Transport Canada and Bombardier were not able to find any other maintenance sources available to meet their short-notice request.

"If Team Tyndall couldn't provide assistance, the aircraft would have had to fly to Pennsylvania with the landing gear down and locked or have the equipment shipped to them in Louisiana and perform the maintenance at a remote airfield on a flight line," said Mr. Reed. "This is not recommended if the aircraft is required to jack in the air to troubleshoot and ops check the landing-gear system."

"In light of the national importance this aircraft has on monitoring the oil spill, King Aerospace Inc. agreed to provide the required manpower to support the repair," said Colonel Lee.

When the agreement was made to offer the support, Team Tyndall got to work. The aircraft arrived at Tyndall at 5:30 p.m. May 5.

"Our team worked immediately and continued non-stop until 12:30 a.m. to complete the repairs," said Keith Snyder, King Aerospace E-9A program manager.

The D-8 aircraft departed May 6 to resume their mission out of Louisiana.