Team Dover Maintainers 'tool up' with new trailers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover maintainers won't have to wait in line to get a tool box now, thanks to the newly created point-of-use Composite Tool Kit trailers and boxes being used on the flightline.

By the end of the month, maintainers will have five new CTK trailers which store two tool kits, enough tools to support two six-man teams of maintainers for two C-5s.

"This is a one-stop shop for the maintainers, and it's conveniently placed right outside of their work area near the aircraft," said Tech. Sgt. James Blake, 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance technician, who took part in creating the trailers. "We've found a better way to keep the mechanic on the aircraft with the proper tools and equipment needed to launch and recover the aircraft."

With the old system, Airmen would line up for roll call before the duty day began, then line up at the CTK counter to check out tool boxes.

"Instead of waiting in line every day to do their jobs, maintainers will be able to work efficiently to become more effective in accomplishing their mission at hand," said 2nd Lt. Daniel Martin, 436th AMXS. "It takes time to obtain personal protection equipment, stand in line with 30 other Airmen checking out a tool box and driving out to the flightline. Sometimes, the process just to be able to get to work takes longer because they have to travel back and forth to CTK for more tools."

A significant amount of hours are saved for working on aircraft with the new trailers, according to the research and calculations from a point-of-use rapid improvement event.

In a typical 24-hour duty day, with eighteen Airmen per shift for every three shifts, each Airman uses about 44 minutes to travel back and forth from the aircraft for additional tools they need, he said.

"That's a total of 39.6 man hours being wasted per day just to travel to the job site. With the new trailers, Airmen will only use 15.3 hours instead," said the lieutenant. "That will allow maintainers to dedicate more time to fixing the aircraft."

In the 24-hour operational-duty day, rain or shine, Airmen will be able to get the job done because the trailer is fully-equipped and climate-controlled with heating and cooling.

"Each trailer is user-friendly because they're transportable or stationary, equipped with two computers and internet access for maintenance database, time accountability and discrepancy tracking to see what's fixed on the aircraft," said Sergeant Blake. "There's also other equipment, including two-way radios, to fulfill a maintainer's mission."

He said the trailers also come with safety features, such as a first aid kit, an emergency eye wash station and fire extinguishers.

"Not only do we have the equipment to work safely, correctly and by-the-book for the planes, we also have the right equipment for the well-being of our Airmen as well," said Sergeant Blake.

"I can't believe we'll have all the tools we need to do the job on site without going back and forth to supply for them," he said. "This all-in-one aircraft launch and recovery trailer will probably open new doors for future tool kits in other shops around the base."

Sergeant Blake is an experienced maintainer who has been working on the flightline with Team Dover Airmen for nearly 20 years. He said this is raising the morale of Airmen.

"This has been a huge and successful improvement by using the trailers," said the sergeant. "I am really proud to be a part of this project with Airmen of all ranks who worked together through this long process for nearly a month, to connect the final pieces of the puzzle to make this happen."

The sergeant wasn't the only one enthusiastic by the outcome of the new trailers.

Col. Dennis Daley, 436th Maintenance Group commander, was also impressed by the new trailers through a demonstration tour visit.

"I'm proud to see this new innovation from our squadron Airmen - enlisted members and officers - who came up with this idea together to make Dover Air Force Base more resourceful and productive," said Colonel Daley.