ISO element offers full service 'look under the hood' for Fairchild tankers

July 25, 1997
Originally published by Fairchild Connection (Fairchild AFB, WA)

The 92nd Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Flight is responsible for inspecting 57 KC-135 aircraft for the world's largest KC-135 wing. They are also the largest KC-135 inspection element. Over the course of a year, approximately 74 aircraft are inspected.

"Because of downsizing and budget cuts, we've seen an increase in the number of aircraft coming through our inspection docks. We've also seen an increase in aircraft components requiring the attention of our inspectors," SMSgt. Wayne Stronk, flight chief said.

The Isochronal Inspection Element (also known as ISO), the portion of the flight that does the bulk of the actual inspection, works in two separate docks. Each dock has 15 personnel assigned. Since more KC-135 aircraft are assigned here than anywhere else, it means more busy time for everybody.

"We have to perform a certain number of inspections every year," said MSgt. Richard Goede, who pointed out that a contant mission of the flight is to cut down on inspection times. As ISO inspection element chief, Goede is responsible for the inspections.

"You can't fly the plane if you can't pass the inspection," Stronk said. "It's that simple."

"Most bases take seven to nine days to accomplish the inspection. Here, the standard used to be six days, and we just recently reduced to five," Goede said. "We made improvements in how we went about things to reduce inspection time. We consolidated more tasks and our custom made inspection stands reduced inspection time by six hours.

"During wartime, the standard is 72 hours for completion, so we have to be able to pick up and move quick."

Stronk said increased manpower has also helped the flight get done easier and faster.

"Before, we had 10 or 11 personnel in each dock. Now we have 15 assigned to each dock now. Thirty percent of our people are brand new and have only 3-level experience, but they are stepping up and doing a fantastic job. It's a very large training curve, going through the training process is not easy," he said.

The procedure is very detailed for a typical inspection, Stronk said. "Inspection work cards outline over 5,000 items or areas requiring inspection. These include the aircraft's entire interior and external surfaces as well as the engines. We work side-by-side with our propulsion element to focus on the details."

A typical inspection will have anywhere from 200 to 300 discrepancies, ranging from simple to major deficiencies, Stronk said.

Corrosion to an aircraft must be constantly watched for, according to Goede. "It just builds up until it's noticeable, but by then it may be too late," he said.

Stronk said the mission is essential to take the burden off flightline crews.

"If we don't provide a reliable product, more and more problems will come up," he said. "It would affect the mission, and put more burden on the flightline people. The mission is to provide a safe and reliable aircraft."