Photo By Senior Airman Keira Rossman | George Hernandez, 47th Flying Training Wing Maintenance Group T-6A Texan II aircraft...... read more read more
Team XL’s T-6A Texan II maintenance division officially instituted a dedicated crew chief (DCC) program.
The DCC program assigns a crew chief to each T-6A Texan II in Laughlin’s fleet to provide continuity for aircraft forms, aircraft status, scheduled maintenance and more. The DCC program assigns a single crew chief to oversee all tasks for each aircraft, ensuring they are completed on schedule.
“The DCC program was designed to instill pride, dedication, and professionalism in everything we do as a team,” said Rene Martinez, 47th Flying Training Wing Maintenance Group (FTW MX) T-6A division director. “We’ve received positive feedback from the operations side, particularly regarding the improved appearance and maintainability of our aircraft."
DCCs are selected based on their initiative, management and leadership abilities, and technical knowledge. DCCs are assigned to T-6A aircraft utilized by Laughlin’s 434th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) and 85th FTS. A-cell maintainers are assigned to 434th FTS aircraft while B-cell maintainers are assigned to the 85th FTS.
“I've been a crew chief for about two years,” said Jerry Ross, 47th FTW MX T-6A aircraft attendant (B-cell). “It’s great because before, the program wasn’t really enforced, but now it is, and that’s a big win for us. Out here on the flight line, we deal with the tires, fuel and the airframe. But this program lets us really get to know the aircraft on a personal level. You get to learn about the engine, the cockpit and other parts that we didn’t typically handle before because that was more of a hangar job. Now, we’re given the opportunity to get hands-on experience with the entire aircraft, and I think that’s awesome."
The program mandates that crew chiefs must meet certain qualification standards, including achieving a six-level technician position. Each T-6A aircraft is assigned to one crew chief, a maintainer and an instructor pilot. The Aircraft Corrosion Paint section paints all three names on the side frames of the aircraft canopies for tracking and identification.
"Seeing your name on the aircraft means you’re a team player here. It’s motivating because you want to do more for your team,” said Ross. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is the importance of working together to get the job done. This is my second family, and the most important thing is making sure everyone gets home safely and that the mission is completed. At the end of the day, that’s what we’re here for—to make sure everyone gets up in the air safely and comes back home safely."
Crew chiefs are trusted to accompany their aircraft through scheduled inspections, assist with maintenance, and ensure that all deferred discrepancies are managed efficiently.
“I’ve been at Laughlin since 1997 and I've been a dedicated crew chief for the last 15 years,” said George Hernandez, 47th FTW MX T-6A aircraft attendant (A-cell). “Going through colon cancer changed a lot for me but it made me value every day and always bring a positive attitude to work. I’m proud when I see my name on the FAIP (first assignment instructor pilot) heritage tail.”
The DCC program fosters pride, dedication and professionalism among the entire team, from start to finish, overseeing Laughlin’s T-6A fleet. Their hard work directly influences Laughlin’s mission of building combat-ready Airmen, leaders and pilots.
"Our goal is for all Maintenance Directorate Systems (MDS) to implement this program, further enhancing professionalism across the entire 47th Maintenance Directorate,” said Martinez. "The program has significantly improved both the appearance and sustainability of our fleet, with crew chiefs and maintainers ensuring the consistent service and readiness of our aircraft."
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2024 09:37 |
| Story ID: | 479767 |
| Location: | LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 7 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Strengthening Laughlin’s T-6A fleet with DCCs, by SrA Keira Rossman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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