Technicians at the Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah, were able to repair a damaged F-16—slated for a one-way ticket out of the active inventory—avoiding several thousand dollars in commercial repair costs and lengthy down time, according to ALC officials. Technicians of the 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron have the equipment—in this case, what’s called a production fixture that supports the full aircraft as they removed load bearing panels—and expertise “necessary to perform repairs on aircraft that would otherwise be removed from the active inventory,” said 1st Lt. Joshua Holmes, 649th maintenance officer in charge. The fighter had an inch-long crack around one wing-attach bolt, calling for replacement of the left wing closure beam, said Holmes.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.