Joint Base Charleston C-17 Globemaster IIIs perform several missions throughout the world to include combat and presidential support, training and humanitarian missions. As time goes on, aircraft need to be inspected and repaired for structural integrity, internal cracks, painting and exterior damage. The 437th Maintenance Squadron, Fabrication Flight is responsible for fixing and identifying such issues to ensure mission readiness.
The fabrication flight has three main sections: corrosion control and structural repair, metals technology and nondestructive inspection with over 80 civilian and military personnel supporting the various disciplines. The flight completes approximately 5,900 C-17 repairs.
“The most rewarding part of this job is the people I work with,” said Lieutenant Brian Jung, 437th Fabrication Flight officer in charge. The pride and hard work people display on a daily basis to generate missions inspires me to come to work every day and serve them the best way I can. Every person has a story and I love spending time with the people in my flight to get to learn their story. Moreover, I enjoy highlighting the work of others so that they can achieve personal recognition for their hard work.”
Each member must be trained in 212 job skill tasks in order for them to be proficient at their craft, and they spend one – two months training on the particular skills in that area. It takes about four to six months before they are upgraded to five-level Journeyman.
“I enjoy spraying the aircraft during the paint process,” said Tech. Sgt. Richard Bazen, 437th MXS NCO in charge. I think it’s a good skill that can be utilized outside of the military.”
Bazen oversees the entire process which includes pre-masking, sanding, de-masking and painting. Around 12 aircraft go through the corrosion control repair section annually, it takes approximately two weeks complete each C-17.
The Nondestructive section uses noninvasive methods to inspect the insides of metal objects to identify possible defects in systems and equipment before problems before they occur using electrical, magnetic, X-ray and fluorescent technologies.
11.08.2019
Video by James Bowman
Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs