Fuel systems repair hangar officially opens

by Airman 1st Class Chris Drzazgowski
355th Fighter Wing public affairs

7/15/2015 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The 355th Component Maintenance Squadron's joint fuel cell repair hangar ribbon cutting ceremony was held July 13.

The facility was constructed to improve efficiency within the joint fuel cell leading to the reduction in man hours and operating costs.

The new hangar is Air Combat Command's largest aircraft fuel systems repair section. It supports eight aircraft maintenance units which service assets with a combined worth of over $3.3 billion.

The structure is comprised of many state of the art features which contribute to the fuel system repair section's effort to be self-sufficient.

"We no longer have to make trips to maintenance to get what we need," said Tech. Sgt. Richard Newman, 355th CMS assistant fuel systems section chief. "Whether it's air hoses, respirator hoses or lights, everything is built into the ceiling of the hangar. Now we just have to walk to the side of the hangar, push a button and everything we need rolls out from the ceiling above the aircraft."

The facility encompasses 29,000 square feet and is capable of housing one C-130 Hercules, or either two A-10 Thunderbolts or HH-60 Pavehawks. It is equipped with three overhead stations to allow the repair section to work on multiple fuel tanks at a time.

"We can refuel and defuel in our own hangar as opposed to assembling a tow team to bring the aircraft out to refuel, diagnose, then defuel it to put into our hangar for repair," Newman said. "This feature will save us hundreds of man hours annually."

Another addition to the building that was not available to the repair section's previous location, is its own aircraft power unit. The wall-mounted unit has an output of 115 volts and 400 hertz to supply power to the systems of the aircraft in need of repair. This allows the repair section to diagnose problems without having to put in a request for a separate generator, according to Newman.

The Airmen of the aircraft fuel systems section have been ready to begin working in their new location since the beginning of its construction in April 2013.

"If I was a brand new Airman who was assigned here, I'd get a sense of pride after seeing the brand new building," Newman said. "I'd think to myself 'Wow, stepping into The Blue was worth it.' I think it will create a sense of pride among the Airmen who work here."