Wind and lightning

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  When 56th Fighter Wing pilots are flying night operations they count on their aircraft lighting systems to accomplish the mission safely. But when these systems malfunction, it's "mission no go." 

Enter the 56th Component Maintenance Squadron electrical and environmental shop. This shop is not just charged with keeping the lights on in the aircraft, but also keeping many other crucial systems running. 

"We fix a lot of parts," said Senior Airman Abel Wrate, 56th CMS electrical and environmental journeyman. "We work on wheel speed sensors, aircraft batteries, liquid oxygen converters, wire harnesses and generators. We also work on all of the aerospace ground equipment necessary to maintain our equipment." 

But, the electrical and environmental back shop requires input from its sister component on the flightline. 

"After the flightline identifies a problem part, they turn the part in, and we fix it," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Amrich 56th CMS electrical and environmental day shift supervisor. "The majority of the parts that get turned in are repairable, but sometimes they're not. We're in a unique situation where we also double as a mini depot. With some parts, like a wheel speed sensor, if we can't fix it, it's turned in for scrap. If it's a part like a constant speed drive, we will send it off for depot level repair at Hill Air Force Base, Utah." 

Although the electrical and environmental back shop does turn in some equipment, its ability to keep some parts here has saved the wing money for a long time. 

"The Air Force Repair Enhancement Program was started here approximately 17 years ago," said Walter Healis, 56th CMS electrical and environmental superintendent. "Since then we have saved the wing well over $24 million by being able to repair and return roughly 250 to 280 parts a month." 

With this rate of sustained production the electrical and environmental shop has a long future ahead of it. 

"I've been here a long time and I'm very proud of the men and women that have come through this shop," Mr. Healis said.