445th MXS wins 4th Air Force award

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  • By 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The 445th Maintenance Squadron's fabrication flight has been selected as the 2011 Maintenance Section of the Year at the 4th Air Force level. The announcement was made Feb. 10.

The fabrication flight is responsible for aircraft structural maintenance. The flight consists of three sections; aircraft structural repair, metals technology and non-destructive inspection (NDI).

During the award period, the fabrication flight performed numerous aircraft structural repairs during FY11 for base operations that included two high profile aircraft. The unit rebuilt an unprocurable C-5 Galaxy air conditioning duct assembly, saving the Air Force $16,700 versus contractual costs. The flight manufactured a critical C-5 visor pressurization repair on one of the aircraft, avoiding a costly $250,000 depot input. They coordinated with structural engineers to develop repair for an unprocurable fuselage composite panel, enabling a complex repair accomplishment that saved the government $50,000 in re-tooling costs.

Other noteworthy accomplishments by the fabrication flight include initiating a self help project that installed and set up a new, fully operational NDI lab dye penetrant inspection line, saving the Air Force more than $30,000 in contracting labor. The unit partnered with the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, providing flight personnel real world training of industrial work center hazards exposure. Flight members manufactured and designed more than 250 tools, test fixtures, maintenance trailers and key support equipment, overcoming wing adversity for equipment shortfalls that saved more than $250,000 versus traditional contracting costs.

The fabrication flight will compete at the Air Force Reserve Command level.