366th AMXS hosts support section best practice

Published Feb. 8, 2011
By 1st Lt. Neil Samson
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron currently utilizes a best practice used to validate core aircraft maintenance group processes and practices for the upcoming Logistics Compliance Assessment Program, scheduled to take place Feb. 14 to 18.

This best practice, known as the 366th AMXS support section, will serve as the focal point to which inspectors will go prior to commencing the upcoming LCAP.

The support section consists of 18 support and supply individuals who ensure aircraft and equipment remain functional. It is also charged with maintaining a library of technical data and specialized tools.

The support section conducts itself with guidance contained in Air Force Instruction 21-101, an instruction containing core principles of the operation of aircraft maintenance units.

More than three chapters of AFI 21-101 are dedicated to guidance on the operation of support sections, making it a key element to the running of a strong aircraft maintenance unit, said Master Sgt. August Gephardt, 389th Aircraft Maintenance Unit noncommissioned officer in charge.

"A maintenance crew chief cannot clear an aircraft for flight without guidance from a support section that maintains all the technical data, tools and specifications," Sergeant Gephardt said. "A well-functioning and organized support section is the building-cornerstone for a smoothly run aircraft maintenance unit."

During the last six months, the support section has been preparing for the LCAP by increasing their efficiency of equipment being issued to flightline crews and working with maintenance units to synchronize data and procedures.

"We have had about 48 to 72 hours of collaboration with the 391st Aircraft Maintenance Unit--our sister unit, comparing practices and seeing which procedures to put into play," Sergeant Gephardt said. "After comparing and finding the best practice, we work as a team to make that process better."

Capt. Jonathan St. Peter, 389th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge agrees. After strengthening best procedures, unit leadership oversee the standardization of these practices.

"We have examined these processes with sister maintenance units to investigate what we are doing different and why we are doing it differently. If there isn't a good reason to do it differently, we try standardize our processes," added Captain St. Peter. "Collaborating these processes and procedures is the largest initiative undertaken in preparation for this upcoming inspection."

On the eve of the LCAP, the results of this preparation and collaboration between the 389th and 391st Aircraft Maintenance Units are becoming apparent.

"We have noticed an increase in our productivity of approximately 25 to 30 percent during peak rush hours so maintenance crews can be disseminated faster to their aircraft," Sergeant Gephardt said. "Maintenance crews are now spending approximately 65 to 75 percent of their time performing maintenance duties on the flight line."

He said the support section has also recently implemented electronic scanners to expedite the process of equipment accountability, instead of their old process of manually typing the label code on the computer.

The LCAP will ultimately make certain that the practices of the support section are safe, standardized, repeatable and technically compliant with guidance.

"This LCAP will show the Air Force has an interest in how we are doing the job because the Airmen don't realize what effect they have on the overall mission," Sergeant Gephardt said. "It shows the Air Force cares about what we are doing and how we perform our mission."

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366th AMXS hosts support section best practice

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