Eagle's soar - Tyndall maintainers on record-setting roll

  • Published
  • By Bob Taylor
  • 325th Maintenance Operations Squadron
Major improvements made while maintaining the three-decade old F-15 Eagle have marked fiscal 2007 as one of the greatest turnaround years for aircraft and maintenance performance indicators in the history of Tyndall. 

"Our maintainers stepped up to a challenge - a challenge to excel and to strive to be the best," said Col. Brett Haswell, 325th Maintenance Group commander. "The results of their improvements will ensure our Eagles are capable and ready, well into the 21st Century. These advancements reflect the hard work and dedication of a professional maintainer force. Maintainers take their work personally...we know that the aircraft entrusted to our care are national treasures to be cared for and treated with respect...we know how difficult it will be to replace them. Our Airmen's accomplishments are even more impressive, in light of the fact the improvements were made during a very busy year of changing operational events, including: inactivation of the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Unit, F-15 aircraft transfers to Air National Guard units, and continuing aging aircraft issues." 

All 11 key maintenance performance indicators show impressive improvement trends in fiscal 2007. Moreover, many of the year's metrics represent multi-year bests. For example, the repeat/recur discrepancy rate (1.5 per 100 pilot reported discrepancies) for October 2006-March 2007 is on pace to set an all-time fiscal year record since the Eagles arrived to Tyndall in April 1984. 

The repeat/recur rate is perhaps the most important and accurate measure of the quality of maintenance performed in a unit. It represents the ability to fix component failures right the first time, thus, eliminating "rework." 

A "repeat pilot reported discrepancy" is one occurring on the same system or subsystem during the first sortie or sortie attempt after the discrepancy was first reported. A "recurring pilot reported discrepancy" occurs on the second through fourth sortie or attempted sortie after the original occurrence. 

In addition to the fiscal year best, March set an all-time monthly record low at 0.7 for the repeat/recur discrepancy rate. Not only are maintainers setting new records here, they are doing it better than the rest of the Air Force. 

So far, Tyndall holds a 1.5 repeat/recur rate for fiscal 2007 while the F-15 Combat Air Force average is 4.1. 

"Determined, deliberate focus on getting the most out of an aging fleet of aircraft to support the mission, drives the fiscal 2007 improvements," said Colonel Haswell. "Our goal is to give the American taxpayer optimum effect for their hard-earned dollar." 

A renewed mindset was instilled by Colonel Haswell last year that reflects upon this focus. His goal was to build health for Tyndall's F-15 leading and lagging indicators through sound, quality maintenance, and strategic, logical scheduling. 

In the strategic, logical scheduling arena, Colonel Haswell built a strong rapport with the 325th Operations Group commander. Working hand-in-hand, the two leaders directed a fiscal 2007 annual Flying Hour Program that defined maintenance capability and flying mission accomplishment. This fostered continual fleet heath of the Eagles while providing professional aviators with safe, reliable, mission-ready aircraft. The groups worked to match maintenance capabilities with mission flying requirements. 

"The FHP not only favorably impacted fleet health and assured mission accomplishment, it was a morale-builder as well because it limited "two-go sorties" on Fridays and made "one-go" Fridays a rule, resulting in reduced weekend maintenance," said Colonel Haswell. "Weekend maintenance dilutes maintenance capability and maintainer morale. Now, thanks to the superb FHP, maintainers are home with their families on the weekend." 

Central to the colonel's vision was a 2007 Maintenance Plan that targeted Back to Basics, Recapitalization, Continuous Improvement, and Prevention. Further, using a NASCAR analogy, Colonel Haswell said, "We needed to slow down in order to speed up." 

Maintainers followed his lead by concentrating on sound, quality maintenance evident in the record repeat/recur rates and across-the-board improvements in aircraft availability, maintainability and reliability. They implemented preventative maintenance processes to sustain the health of the aging fleet and foster continuous improvement. 

Chief among the preventative maintenance programs are "Eagle 21" and "Eagle Cannibalization Enhancement." Both of these programs are reaping substantial benefits in eliminating aircraft component failures and ground aborts. 

"Moreover, the improvements made have collectively uplifted the attitude and morale of our entire workforce, and resulted in an increased sense of pride of accomplishment in a tough business," said Colonel Haswell. "This is where the real payoff has been. Our people have seen their ideas implemented and they have seen their work reap many successes...and they feel good about it." 

"That attitude is catching on and it feeds on itself," he said. "That's why we can expect to see even more and more improvements from our Tyndall maintainers. I am extremely proud of them." 

The collective force of initiatives like the 2007 Maintenance Plan, strategic and logical planning and preventative maintenance programs fueled the gains made in quality and reliability in fiscal 2007. 

"Wow, what an impressive year of accomplishments for the maintainers and the rest of the Wing's warriors," said Brig. Gen. Tod D. Wolters, 325th Fighter Wing commander. "They are generating eye-watering aircraft and maintenance performance and are key to our ability to train combat-ready pilots for the CAF." 

"From the clinic, to mission support personnel, to parts-getters, to Eagle and Raptor drivers, to the flight line and to the back shops, it takes a Checkertail Family total team effort by all blue-suiters and contractors to achieve the success being generated. I am proud of you all--you are true Wingmen," said the general.