A-TEAM makes ‘first of its kind’ repair to jet engine

  • Published
  • By Raymond Brzozowski
  • 97th AMW UPAR
ALTUS AFB --  97th Air Mobility Wing Maintenance Directorate A-Team maintainers recently made its first-ever repair to a KC-135 TF 108-100 engine savings the Air Force more than $1.5 million.
The civilian maintainers discovered damage to the engine during a recent inspection. The engine abraidable cartridge fiberglass support which holds the abraidable seal in place for the first stage compressor blades was damaged. This damage normally would have required the engine to be removed from the aircraft, sent to depot-level maintenance and a spare engine shipped back to Altus Air Force Base for use. At Depot, the damaged part would simply be removed and replaced.
Unfortunately, there is a critical world-wide shortage of these engines; knowing this, the A-TEAM maintainers took to the books and researched how to execute the repair on their own as opposed to sending the engine to Depot. "We knew the importance of making this repair locally, keeping another spare engine available for the war fighters," said Mr. Randy Greenwood, 97th MX equipment maintenance branch chief. However, several obstacles loomed. First, this repair, though authorized, had never been made before. Suppliers of the necessary chemicals and compounds had to be located. Then the products had to meet the specifications set out by aircraft technical orders. Another hurdle was getting the products in the small quantities that were required. Some of the needed chemicals only came in 55-gallon containers. Once suppliers were located, all the products had to be coordinated through the hazardous material pharmacy and have a Material Safety Data Sheet completed.
With the research and coordination completed, delivery dates established and products received, the maintenance team went to work making the first-ever repair of this kind to the engine.
Nine different products were needed. The 97th Manufacturing Flight required only two days of research and coordination to save the Air Force more than $1.5 million while simultaneously keeping a spare engine available during a period with critical shortages. "This is just another example of the capabilities of the A-TEAM. We are a world-class organization and I couldn't be more proud of these folks," said Mr. T.O. Hilley, Director, 97th MX.