Engine maintainer ensures aircraft readiness at Bagram

Photo By Stephenie Wade | Petty Officer 2nd Class John Foster, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Customs, inspects a C-130 Hercules engine for stagnant water, vegetation, insects and contraband on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, May 13, 2013. Once the engine is cleared it will be brought to the Transportation Management office for shipment back to the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

05.08.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - The Aircraft assigned to the 455 Expeditionary Wing here protect the base, collect intel and save lives; but an aircraft will not run without an engine, and the engine can’t function without maintenance.

Tech. Sgt. Christopher Poole, 455th Maintenance Group engine manager, is responsible for all spare engines assigned to four different aircraft maintenance units here.

When an engine breaks, he comes to the rescue making sure it gets to the right place to get repaired, and that additional spare engines are always available if needed.

In the event an engine breaks the unit fills out an engine change request form. This form details the reason the engine has to be changed and what maintenance was performed by the unit to try and repair it. Poole then sends the form to Air Force Central Command and the units Major Command to determine where the engine will go to get fixed. The majority of the time the engines remain in the area of responsibility for repair.

Recently, after a C-130 Hercules engine was severely damaged in flight, the level of repairs required the engine be sent back to the U.S.

“We do not send an engine back to the states for repairs often, but when we do it’s my job to supervise the process up until it is shipped. That includes making sure the engine is ready for the customs clearance process,” said Poole, deployed here from Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

As a part of his daily duties, Poole works with U.S. Navy members every week to clear engines through customs.

“In order for a piece of an aircraft to return to the United States from overseas, it must go through a thorough process and inspection by customs,” he said. “Working with the Navy reminds me of the joint effort in the AOR.”

At Bagram, the customs clearance process is conducted by the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group. Their job is to stop restricted and prohibited items, as defined by U.S Department of Agriculture and the Customs and Border Protection Agency, from entering the United States.

“It’s my job to clear all items and personnel leaving Bagram every day,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class John Foster, Navy Customs official. “In this circumstance, we inspect the engine to make sure it’s clean of stagnant water, vegetation, bugs and contraband prior to wrapping it up for shipment.”

After the engine is approved by customs, the C-130 Aircraft Maintenance Unit will wrap it up with a protective covering.

"Once customs clears the engine, I tow it to the traffic management office to get weighed and shipped," said Poole.

Poole is a B-52 flight line engine mechanic at his home station, so he knows the importance of an engine.

"When new, spare engines come in, it's my job to pick them up and deliver them to the units in a timely manner because an aircraft can’t fly without an engine.”

• Date Taken: 05.08.2013
• Date Posted: 05.15.2013 10:11
• Story ID: 106937
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF
• Hometown: NEWELL, WV, US