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Ground equipment keeps our planes in the sky

Airman 1st Class Desiree Klein, 436th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment apprentice, checks the oil level of a portable generator March 17, 2015, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The AGE Flight is comprised of Airmen from both the active duty 436th Airlift Wing and the Reserve 512th AW. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia)

Ground equipment keeps our planes in the sky

Airman 1st Class Tyrell King, 436th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment, performs maintenance on a B-5 Maintenance Stand March 17, 2015, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. King is one of only 24 personnel that maintenances more than 400 pieces of equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia)

Ground equipment keeps our planes in the sky

Chris Davis, 436th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment mechanic, instructs Airman 1st Class Chancellor Mackey, 436th MXG AGE apprentice, March 17, 2015, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The AGE Flight is responsible for maintaining a wide verity of ground equipment, primarily used on Team Dover’s flight line. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia)

Ground equipment keeps our planes in the sky

Published March 17, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Whether you are a crew chief on the flight line checking the tire pressure on a C-17 Globemaster III, or a Security Forces defender at the main gate on a cold winter day, you have probably used equipment provided by the Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight from the 436th and 512th Maintenance Squadrons.

This flight, comprised of only 24 personnel, is responsible for more than 400 pieces of equipment that are essential to Team Dover's success.

"We have such an array of different types of equipment," said Joe Mogle, 436th MXS AGE work leader. "And all of our equipment, except for rare occasions is used out on the flight line. The few exceptions include the heaters for the guards at the gates."

Portable diesel generators, heaters, air conditioning, non-powered maintenance stands, air compressors, hydraulic units, nitrogen carts, start carts and light carts are just a few of the variety of equipment pieces that this shop maintains.

"We support the flight line directly," said Senior Airman Nathan Schneck, 436th MXS AGE journeyman. "Not only do we maintain and fix our equipment, we also deliver it directly to the flight line; we pick it back up, service it and fuel it."

The 24 hour, seven days a week shop is full of highly trained Airmen, who typically must make anywhere from 30 to 40 runs out to the flight line, per eight hour shift.

"Without AGE, there is no flying, they won't fly without AGE," Mogle said. "Anything they do with that aircraft out there (flight line), a piece of our equipment is involved."