Fairchild showcases modernization efforts to AMC

Team Fairchild showcased their latest innovations and modernization efforts to Brig. Gen. Richard Gibbs, Air Mobility Command director of logistics, engineering and force protection, during his tour here last week.

Team Fairchild constantly searches for innovative ways to increase productivity while saving money and resources modernizing the more than 60-year-old KC-135.

Highlighted innovations included the 92nd Maintenance Group’s addition of the Condition Based Maintenance Plus and Theory of Constraint workflows, and a 3D printer scanning system; all save the Air Force hundreds of man hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“I really like what the 92nd MXG is getting after,” Gibbs said. “If you look at aircraft availability, we don’t have enough tankers. To give combatant commanders the quality assets they need given our constraints, they have applied these tools and techniques and basically gained back thousands of aircraft availability hours, which is a huge win for our entire Air Force mission set.”
The tour also showcased accomplishments of 92nd Security Forces Squadron Airmen, to include a community partnership on a future shooting range and anti-drone measures. They also highlighted a locally-developed innovation that enhances base security by alerting security personnel if the perimeter fence is tampered with.

The 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron also briefed Gibbs on how they streamline maintenance operations through Decentralized Maintenance Support, a program where LRS Airmen embed within maintenance squadrons to provide them direct support with parts acquisitions and more.

This charge for innovation has led to many Fairchild units receiving awards for their contributions to the Global Reach mission.

“It is daunting how many awards Team Fairchild has won, in fact, there were two at the Air-Force level,” Gibbs said. “I know they’re doing incredible work and supporting the mission sets for every combatant commander, enabling our mission as an Air Force.”

Gibbs also presented the AMC Balchen/Post Award for Best Snow and Ice Control to the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron snow removal team for their performance ensuring the Rapid Global Mobility Mission could continue through heavy snow conditions.

“Getting to see the [snowbarn] team and present the best in AMC award was incredible,” Gibbs said. “Fairchild could get a huge amount of snow tonight and they will clear the runways, open the field and the base will be ready to execute the war-time mission. They are an exciting team and their ability to perform every year is nothing short of exceptional.”

These awards and highlights are just a small example of The Famous 92nd’s latest accomplishments. Fairchild won 76 different awards from 2018-2019. This includes its third consecutive Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and placing third in the Air Force for the prestigious Commander-In-Chief Installation Excellence Award.

“Fairchild is taking a weapons system that is older than they are and incorporating new ways to deliver the aircraft to the war fighter,” Gibbs said. “The mission is not new, but the way Fairchild and its Airmen are getting after it is.”

Through determined mission-focused innovation and modernization efforts, Team Fairchild Airmen have kept the reliable KC-135 Stratotanker flying for more than six decades.