Aircraft maintainers at Ramstein AB, Germany, just went through their last 10-day isonchronal inspection of an E model C-130 Hercules. The base is shedding its older Herks, making way for the new C-130J variants. The ISO work is only done about every 420 days, giving maintainers an opportunity to more thoroughly check out everything from engines to the electrical system. The importance of such attention to detail is not lost on the flight crew, as 1st Lt. James Stikeleather, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot, said, “The 86th MXS prevents disasters from happening with all of the inspections they perform.” Members of the 86th Maintenance Squadron will be conducting this same type inspection of their first J model in summer 2010. The base already has opened a new aircraft parts store for the C-130J, constructing a 17,000-square-foot “state of the art warehouse facility,” said Capt. Eric Wicklund, commander of the 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron Materiel Management Flight. (ISO report by A1C Alexandria Mosness; 86th LRS report)
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
