SACRAMENTO, Calif. - As the fires in California continue to threaten lives and property, maintainers from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group ensure that the modular airborne fire fighting system-equipped C-130 aircraft are ready to fly and drop fire retardant on time and on target.
When it comes to getting the C-130s off the ground and to where they are needed most, 302nd AEG maintainers rely on teamwork and dedication to get the job done.
"When we get a call, they tell us what the problem [with the aircraft] is, and we go out and check it out," said Airman 1st Class Emmanuel Perez. "Once the problem is addressed, we get the plane back on the flight line and ready to go."
Long before the C-130 departs for an aerial firefighting mission, maintenance personnel are on scene to ensure that the aircraft is ready to fly.
"Maintenance personnel start their day one to two hours before the aircraft crew arrives," said Tech. Sgt. James Hudson with the 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard." They inspect the plane to prepare it for the crew chief to take [the aircraft]."
Even after the day's missions have concluded, maintainer's work doesn't end.
"After the missions are over, maintenance personnel will stay to check over the planes to make sure there are no issues needing attention that could prevent the aircraft from its next mission," Hudson said.
Prior to beginning work on any aircraft, technicians spend hours learning about the aircraft, inside and out. Some of the instruction comes from technical manuals, and the rest is handed down from the more experienced technicians during on-the-job training.
Technical school for aircraft maintenance is about 11 weeks, followed by OJT and other training, according to Hudson.
Hudson also added that the newest technicians train on various scenarios in order to become proficient and confident about and more experienced maintainers monitor them, making sure the job is done correctly.
"New technicians go through an interview-type process to [become proficient maintainers] including learning how to trouble shoot during a wide variety of scenarios and that's when the experienced technicians teach them what they know," Hudson said.
Even though Perez and Hudson may spend many hours on the flight line working on mechanical issues that may arise during the course of a flying day, they know that what they are doing is important to the citizens of California affected by the wildfires.
"It's an immense feeling of satisfaction; you're putting in 12 to 14 hours a day," Perez said. "You go home, you're beat up, you're tired, but it's not just a job. You're actually keeping the quality of life for the people of California intact. At the end of the day, it's a great feeling."
"We're here to support any natural disasters or anything that arises stateside," Hudson said. "We're here for the public and anywhere they need us."
The 302nd AEG is made up of eight U.S. Air Force MAFFS-capable C-130 aircraft operating out of McClellan Airfield, Calif. and eight Navy Reserve and Marine Corps helicopter units operating out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
The 302nd AEG aircraft units include three Air National Guard units, 145th Airlift Wing from Charlotte, N.C., the 146th Airlift Wing from Channel Islands, Calif., and the 153rd Airlift Wing from Cheyenne, Wyo.; and one Air Force Reserve unit, the 302nd Airlift Wing from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
The 302nd AEG provides unique capabilities and is part of a unified military support effort of U.S. Northern Command to provide assistance to the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Protection and the National Interagency Fire Center.