Air Forces Central Command is shifting its posture in certain areas from an expeditionary footing to a more enduring presence. The 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron, as a result, is undertaking projects to improve infrastructure at al Udeid AB, Qatar, one of AFCENT’s operating hubs. This includes constructing a permanent C-17 spare parts facility to improve access to spares and shorten supply chains, according to a release. Having spares readily available for the aircraft, like C-17s, moving through al Udeid is “critical,” said Maj. Timothy Scheffler, the 379th ECES engineering flight commander. At present, more than 16,000 C-17 spare parts are stored in connexes on a dirt lot on base. This setup, however, leaves some parts prone to degradation due to exposure to dirt, sand, heat, and humidity. Proper storage and organization of these parts will help to prevent this, saving money and enabling members of the 8th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron return C-17s to mission-ready status faster, said Lt. Col. Jesse Baker, the unit’s commander.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
