AGE helps keep C-130s flying

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Dillon
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  It's no secret aircraft require some type of ground support to perform maintenance and service the aircraft. 

What might not be so well known is that the 374th Maintenance Squadron's Aerospace Ground Equipment flight maintains more than 600 pieces of vital ground support equipment to aircraft stationed here and those transiting the base.

"The planes can't take off without the equipment we provide," said Tech. Sgt. Francisco Perez-Colon, 374th MXS AGE flight. "The maintainers use the equipment that we maintain and deliver to keep Yokota's aircraft flying."

AGE personnel tow and position equipment for use on aircraft parking ramps and in hangars.

"People think that all we do here at AGE is drive up and down the flight line and deliver equipment but there is a lot more to it than that," said Tech. Sgt. Eugene Angel. "We have to be efficient in electronics, engines, air and hydraulics systems." 

The AGE shop's 50 Airmen are trained on typical ground support equipment, the principles of electronics, refrigeration, hydraulics, power generation, reciprocating engines (gasoline and diesel), gas turbine engines, pneumatics and heating.

"We work on a little bit of everything here -- we're not just an "all he does" kind of shop," said Sergeant Angel.

The shop services, inspects, troubleshoots, repairs and performs preventive maintenance on motor- and engine-driven generator sets, air conditioners, hydraulic test stands, air compressors, heaters and other similar support equipment.

Without the ground support AGE provides, the maintainers would not be able to fix aircraft and in turn the base would not be able to complete daily flying operations.