to a forward U.S. Army operating base in Afghanistan. The rear ramp of the C-17 opens at altitude and the supplies and equipment go zipping out the back of the aircraft, pulled by parachute. Special operations warfighters also can jump off the ramp when it opens, even above 30,000 feet (9,150 meters), for what’s known as a HALO (high-altitude, low-opening) parachute jump. A C-17 typically has a basic crew of only three—two pilots and a loadmaster— but more routinely they fly with three pilots and two loadmasters, because of the long-duty days and intricate cargo configurations. This flight to Antarctica will include Air Force enlisted personnel like Johnson who quickly can troubleshoot and fix problems that might be encountered in taking the aircraft into such an extreme environment, where low clouds, snow and ice storms are not uncommon. Even ice buildup on the aircraft’s landing gear during the short stay at McMurdo Station can become an issue. “From a maintenance standpoint, we want to make sure that when the aircrew takes the aircraft into that environment— which has a whole list of inherent risks— the one challenge they don’t face is maintenance,” explains Chief Master Sgt. Cameron Pence, an Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent with the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at McChord. “They must be able to deal with any challenge quickly, effectively and correctly—and on the first time—so the mission can happen,” he adds. At McChord Field, the C-17 is the star, and it is well taken care of. In addition to the aircrews, most personnel at the base are involved in maintaining or supporting the aircraft, as well as the Air Force active duty and Reserve C-17 missions, in one way or another. Although production is ending, Boeing will continue to maintain and sustain the worldwide fleet of C-17s for the Air Force and other customers. “We have supported the entire C-17 fleet since the delivery of the very first aircraft, in 1993 to Charleston. That is something we are extremely proud of and we are looking forward to continuing 32 Boeing Frontiers to maintain the U.S. Air Force’s C-17s at their highest levels of aircraft readiness for years to come,” said Gus Urzua, vice president and program manager for Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster Integrated Sustainment Program. About 80 Boeing employees work at McChord Field, supporting the Air Force customer, according to Don Gallion, Boeing base manager for McChord with Global Services & Support, part of Defense, Space & Security. He also has overall management responsibility for Boeing operations at Air Force bases including Elmendorf in Alaska, Travis in California, Altus in Oklahoma and Hickam in Hawaii, as well as March Reserve Base in California. Boeing employees at McChord include field service representatives and field engineers, as well as employees who provide spares support and maintenance and modification expertise. Boeing also is the liaison between the Air Force and C-17 engine-maker Pratt & Whitney. And some full-time Boeing employees serve in the Air Force Reserve at McChord. Airman 1st Class Alexander Seiz, a reservist with the 446th Airlift Wing for about a year, is a quality control inspector with Boeing Fabrication in Auburn, Wash., and has worked as an inspector on the 787 line in Everett during his nearly three years with Boeing. But one weekend a month at McChord, Seiz learns about C-17s by working on actual aircraft with some of his fellow reservists. He’s training to be a C-17 crew chief, but he can’t be the crew chief on an actual C-17 flight or mission until he reaches a level 5 (or journeyman) skill qualification. (Air Force enlisted Photos: (Clockwise, from top left) Capt. Travis Tompkins, a C-17 aircraft commander with the 62nd Operations Group at McChord; the loadmaster’s station on a C-17, at the front of the cargo compartment, with steps just to the left of where the loadmaster sits that lead to the flight deck; Airman 1st Class Alexander Seiz, a reservist with the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is a quality control inspector with Boeing Fabrication in Auburn, Wash. Bob Ferguson | Boeing
Frontiers February 2015 Issue
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