TSgt. Cade Peterson at Fairchild AFB, Wash., is $10,000 richer for having saved the Air Force possibly $2.6 million annually in deferred mission aborts and material sustainment costs for the KC-10 and KC-135 tankers. Peterson, who is the senior weapon system coordinator for the 92nd Maintenance Squadron, recommended changes to technical orders that introduced a more efficient way to service the main landing gear centering cylinder. TSgt. Larry Carpenter reports that the former tanker crew chief spent 45 hours of his off-duty time to put together a package explaining his idea. The Air Force then spent more than 18 months analyzing and implementing the change, reports TSgt. Larry Carpenter Jr.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.