SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - Some jobs are louder and dirtier than others, but it's the new technology being tested here at the 158th Maintenance Group that will improve job efficiency, learning, and health.
Working with the Air Reserve/Air National Guard Test Center, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Alan Bouffard said they are currently testing two different pieces of equipment that traditionally use diesel fuel but now have been upgraded to run off electrical power.
One piece of equipment is the Electrically Operated Aircraft Tow Vehicle, which is being used in place of the current diesel-fueled configuration for aircraft movement.
Bouffard said the electric tow vehicles have been in use at civilian airports for years, but it's something new for the F-16 aircraft. The Vermont Air Guard was selected for the study because a cold-weather National Guard base was needed.
The other piece of equipment Vermont Air Guard is testing for the Air National Guard is an electric jammer used for weapons loading on the F-16. Bouffard said this equipment would be beneficial to any northern-tier air base.
"A lot of southern-tier bases cannot comprehend because they can easily train outside or with the doors open, and for them it's not a big deal," he said. "But [here], in the northern-tier, we have to train with doors closed a lot of time with our winter or heavy rains, so this equipment makes a huge impact."
For many in the weapons section, the new loading equipment is a positive change.
"The biggest thing is health," Bouffard said. "They used to have to train in an environment that after a few hours became smoky and hard to breathe in."
Additionally, there is a saving from lowered diesel fuel usage and heating costs, Bouffard said, adding there is a huge loss of heat when they have to open the hangar doors for ventilation especially in the bitter winter weather.
The study and testing of the equipment in Vermont is scheduled to continue for the next few months and Bouffard said he is hoping their input will eventually lead to the widespread use of these machines, adding that he feels the equipment is better for the environment, for the health of the Airmen and it's more efficient.
Hopefully it's one more step for a greener military.