Airmen mechanics in the newly opened intermediate engine maintenance center at Moody AFB, Ga., will have the opportunity to maintain more than just one engine type. Traditionally USAF’s engine mechanics have been limited to maintaining only one engine type over their careers. At Moody, the new engine repair center will specialize on TF34 engines for the A-10 ground-attack aircraft. However, engine work for HC-130s combat rescue tankers and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters will also be performed there. The change, based on a policy instituted in May 2009, “allows someone that has worked on an A-10 engine to be able to switch and work on a C-130 or HH-60 engine if manning is low,” said TSgt. Charles Carpentier, combat search and rescue section chief with Moody’s 23rd Component Maintenance Squadron. (Moody report by A1C Nicholas Benroth)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.