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Maintainers keep F-16s soaring in Cope India 05
November 10, 2005 (by
Tech Sgt. Martin Jackson) -
Cleaned, inspected and fully maintained, 12 neatly aligned F-16 Fighting Falcons stand poised for their daily battle. Beside them, their adversary -- an assortment of Indian Air Force MiGs, Mirages and Su-30s -- are also ready for the day's dissimilar air combat training.
The jets are all taking part in exercise Cope India 05, which began Nov. 7 and lasts through Nov. 19. It is the third such exercise held between the U.S. and Indian air forces.
Just three days into the exercise, the F-16s have flown 52 missions with no sortie cancellations due to maintenance. However, for the 74 Airmen deployed from the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, operating out of India hasn't been easy.
"At first it was a bit of a challenge. Some of our equipment was slow in getting here," said Capt. Robert Clark, the squadron maintenance officer. "But we improvised with what we had and made the mission happen the first day."
Working around the clock, the maintainers have focused on the mission -- not on being deployed.
"No matter where we work -- Misawa or India -- our maintainers have to put in a lot of hours to ensure our jets are ready to go," said Tech Sgt. Neil Kellahan, a flightline expeditor. "As a result, the jets have been flying really well. We have had minimal, or no problems."
Between flights the Airmen take the time to interact with their Indian counterparts. In doing so they have found many similarities and differences in the way the two air forces maintain aircraft. The biggest difference is in who performs the actual maintenance.
Captain Clark said in the Indian Air Force, mostly officers perform the heavy aircraft maintenance.
"They seem quite amazed that we have all enlisted troops taking care of the jets," he said.
Ultimately, the maintainers are here to ensure the aircraft are mission ready.
"The pace has been unreal. The first day was just go, go, go," said Senior Airman Troy Herberholzt, an F-16 crew chief. "The heat here is a definite challenge, and we are out in the sun all day with jets coming and going nonstop."
Still, the Airmen's morale is exceptionally high.
"I don't think anyone came here thinking it would be easy," Sergeant Kellahan said. "But as long as the jets are flying good, then we are all having a good day!"
Just three days into the exercise, the F-16s have flown 52 missions with no sortie cancellations due to maintenance. However, for the 74 Airmen deployed from the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, operating out of India hasn't been easy.
"At first it was a bit of a challenge. Some of our equipment was slow in getting here," said Capt. Robert Clark, the squadron maintenance officer. "But we improvised with what we had and made the mission happen the first day."
Working around the clock, the maintainers have focused on the mission -- not on being deployed.
"No matter where we work -- Misawa or India -- our maintainers have to put in a lot of hours to ensure our jets are ready to go," said Tech Sgt. Neil Kellahan, a flightline expeditor. "As a result, the jets have been flying really well. We have had minimal, or no problems."
Between flights the Airmen take the time to interact with their Indian counterparts. In doing so they have found many similarities and differences in the way the two air forces maintain aircraft. The biggest difference is in who performs the actual maintenance.
Captain Clark said in the Indian Air Force, mostly officers perform the heavy aircraft maintenance.
"They seem quite amazed that we have all enlisted troops taking care of the jets," he said.
Ultimately, the maintainers are here to ensure the aircraft are mission ready.
"The pace has been unreal. The first day was just go, go, go," said Senior Airman Troy Herberholzt, an F-16 crew chief. "The heat here is a definite challenge, and we are out in the sun all day with jets coming and going nonstop."
Still, the Airmen's morale is exceptionally high.
"I don't think anyone came here thinking it would be easy," Sergeant Kellahan said. "But as long as the jets are flying good, then we are all having a good day!"
Courtesy of Cope India Public Affairs
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