Working Tirelessly

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Janweb Lagazo | 171012-N-CL027-012 (Oct. 12, 2017) Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Meleah Saye, from Beaufort, South Carolina, retreads an aircraft tire in the tire and wheel shop of the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Janweb B. Lagazo)  

U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

10.28.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Janweb Lagazo 

USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76)   

PHILIPPINE SEA - A constant drone reverberated in the dim-lit space, pierced only by the steady incantations of Eminem’s lyrics. The dark deck was peppered by texturized, blackened streaks, unique to the room. In the center of the area, a mechanical contraption, akin to a potter’s throwing wheel, was flanked by towers of tires, three deep and four high, smelling of a distinct elastic aroma.
The fast-paced tempo of flight operations bring scores of tires to the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department’s tire and wheel shop, nestled in one of the compartments directly adjacent to hangar bay three. Six aviation structural mechanics, in a day-and-night rotation, work tirelessly to break down and retread tires from the fixed-wing and helicopter squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, embarked aboard the forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
“We treat the tires like live ordnance,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Jason Dodson, from South Haven, Mississippi. “There’s a lot of training that goes into the process to get qualified to handle them, let alone repair them.”
Dodson said every time an aircraft is launched or recovered, it begins to erode the treads, and if they are not properly maintained, they could compromise the grip necessary to take off and land.
“There’s a lot of quality assurance in our job,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Meleah Saye, from Beaufort, South Carolina. “It’s demanding and can take time depending on how many tires you have in the shop, because you have to be careful with the tires as you’re inspecting them, retreading them and filling them up.”
Saye said they often receive more than 60 tires a day, depending on the frequency of the flight operations performed by CVW 5. Each tire undergoes meticulous inspections for the smallest cracks, cuts, and wear and tear. The rubber is separated from the flange and rim, each part thoroughly inspected and cleaned. Then the tire is reconstructed and over-pressurized inside a safety cage to gauge durability before being depressurized to naval aviation specifications.
“We rarely get to go up to the flight deck, but I feel like we’re able to support the ship’s mission right here in our small shop,” said Saye.
Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2017
• Date Posted: 12.26.2017 20:18
• Story ID: 260212
• Location: U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY