HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Syracuse, NY - Since
Hancock Field Air National Guard Base converted from the F-16 Fighting Falcon
to the MQ-9 Reaper, the flight line has become more silent and there has been
a noticeable reduction in the level of aircraft maintenance activity on the
base.
However, that all began to change recently as the unit commenced MQ-9 flying
operations at Wheeler-Sack Army Air Field at Fort Drum, N.Y., and the 174th
FW Maintenance Group resumed a more normal maintenance posture on base.
"Our maintenance personnel have contributed to the creating and/or validation
of approximately 80 percent of all maintenance technical data for the U. S.
Air Force in regards to maintenance for the MQ-9," said Air Force Maj. Tim
Martin, 174th Fighter Wing Aircraft maintenance squadron commander.
Currently, the 174th Fighter Wing flies at its training range located at
WSAAF with 174th Fighter Wing maintenance personnel positioned there to
assist with necessary maintenance requirements. However, when more in-depth
maintenance needs to be done those aircraft are boxed up and transported back
to Hancock Field where 174th Fighter Wing maintenance troops begin the more
arduous maintenance work. As a result of this maintenance activity, the unit
has been generating a significant amount of technical data concerning the
proper maintenance of the MQ-9.
"We are importing what the U. S. Air Force is using as it relates to the MQ-9
for technical data, maintenance procedures, etc., as well as providing
improvements for the overall care and maintenance of the MQ-9," said Martin.
As the unit continues to fly at WSAAF, the maintenance tempo has picked up
dramatically to include pre and post-flight maintenance in addition to
maintenance issues that have never been seen before. In fact, the unit has
submitted more than 100 engineering requests during the past two years for
technical data on how to fix certain issues with the MQ-9 - in comparison to
the F-16, which the unit only submitted three engineering requests during the
unit's some 20 years of flying the aircraft.
"The maintenance personnel here at Hancock Field are becoming the subject
matter experts for the MQ-9, while working very closely with the U. S. Air
Force and General Atomics. These maintainers have a vested interest in the
technical data that is being written for this aircraft and they take that
responsibility very seriously, knowing they have the potential in helping to
decide the proper and safest procedures for maintaining the MQ-9," Martin
said.
The MQ-9 is a medium-to-high altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted
aircraft system. The Reaper's primary missions are close air support, air
interdiction, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR. It
acts as a Joint Forces Air Component commander-owned theater asset for
reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of the Joint
Forces commander.
The turboprop-powered, multi-mission Predator B Unmanned Aircraft System was
developed with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., funding and
provides significantly greater capabilities than Predator.
First flown in 2001, Predator B is a highly sophisticated development built
on the experience gained with GA-ASI's battle-proven Predator UAS and a major
evolutionary leap in overall performance and reliability.
With an operational ceiling of 50,000 feet, and higher cruising speed, the
MQ-9 can cover a larger area, under all weather conditions carrying payloads
of more than 1.5 tons. The aircraft is powered by a single Honeywell TP331-10
engine, which provides a maximum airspeed of 260 knots and a cruise speed for
maximum endurance of 150-170 knots.
This aircraft has been acquired by the Air Force, Navy, Department of
Homeland Security, NASA, the Royal Air Force and the Italian Air Force.