by Staff Sgt. Veronica McMahon
36th Wing Public Affairs
5/1/2013 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - -- The
36th Maintenance Squadron Aircraft Wheel and Tire shop recently
installed new equipment to fully accommodate the B-52 Stratofortress and
any other aircraft using the flightline on Andersen Air Force Base,
Guam, while saving roughly $32,000 annually.
This capability is due to the installation of universal adapters for the
aircraft tire bead breakers. The universal adaptor allows the bead
breaker to separate the rubber from the rim on various tire sizes.
"Previously, we only repaired tires for the RQ-4 Global Hawk, but now
we've begun expanding our capabilities to assist with the B-52s," said
Staff Sgt. Tyler Ambrose, 36th MXS Wheel and Tire Shop specialist. "Now
that we have installed this adapter we are able to work on any aircraft
in the Air Force inventory, saving us time and money."
Ambrose and Staff Sgt. Jan Stevens, 36th MXS wheel and tire shop
specialist, run the two-man shop and are thankful to have the new
ability to repair tires here.
"Until recently, brand-new tires were flown into Guam completely
assembled," Ambrose said. "Now that we have the capability to work on
them, the parts can be shipped in by boat and assembled here. All
repairs can also be conducted right here at the shop.
"It's a major cost benefit considering that we are in the remote
location of Guam," he continued. "The tires are so heavy it cuts down
tremendously on shipping costs alone."
Since the equipment was installed so recently, the team has not yet
repaired a B-52 tire, but they have repaired Global Hawk tires, along
with tires from other aircraft during recent exercises.
"During Cope North, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, U.S. Navy and
other U.S. Air Force units were able to use the shop to do minor repairs
here instead of shipping in completely assembled tires from their home
station units," said Stevens.
According to Stevens, tires for the JASDF Mitsubishi F-2s and F-15
Eagles, U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets and the Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons
were all repaired using the new equipment, and so far, the tools have
worked to the shop's expectations.
"Having the universal adapter makes the process a lot quicker, smoother
and now we can accommodate anything we come across," said Stevens. "This
new capability also allows us to provide more services during joint
exercises and support our international allies."
While they are now capable to support any aircraft tire, Ambrose and
Stevens said they expect most of their repairs to be on the Global Hawk
and B-52 tires.
Along with repairs, the B-52 tires will soon be built on Andersen as
well. The shop has already received 49 different parts that make up a
B-52 tire and is equipped with roughly 75 percent of the parts to build
the tires in-house. According to Ambrose, in the next few months the
shop will have the ability to fully outfit an aircraft in a day if need
be.
When the B-52 units deploy in for their six-month rotations, six
maintainers will accompany the unit and assist with tire repairs to
assist with the increased work load.
"The Global Hawks are always here, the B-52s are constantly deploying in
and other aircraft are always using the flightline, so whatever tire
problems come up we are ready," Ambrose said. "Any tire obstacle we come
across on Andersen, we are ready and able to play our part to keep the
mission going."
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