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Propulsion shop in England for SCANG jets

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Connor Estes
  • 48th FW/PA
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  An eight-member jet engine maintenance team from the 169th Maintenance Squadron deployed to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April. Their role is to support the Swamp Foxes deployed to Afghanistan when jet engines need rebuilding.

"Being here in England instead of the states allows for the engines to be fixed much quicker and saves on shipping costs," said Master Sgt. James Compton, McEntire team superintendent. "It would cost around $20,000 to ship an engine back to South Carolina and we've worked on two."

In England, the 169th Airmen have formed a working partnership with the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron. When the team isn't working on their own engines, they give a helping hand with 48th CMS engines.

"We have spared three of the 48th CMS engines since being here," Compton said.

The 48th's propulsion section normally puts out between nine and 11 engines most months according to production supervisor Tech. Sgt. David Long. He said production last month was especially good with the 169th team's help.

"This past month we were able to turn 14 engines with the help of the McEntire group, which is pretty high," said Long.

The Swamp Foxes have helped save the 48th approximately 1,200 man hours. The 48th, in turn, helped the 169th by providing them with hands-on training they usually don't have with their normal one-weekend-a-month training schedule.

Compton said, "The constant hands-on training on engines for the last four months has been a huge benefit to my team. It ensures they are certified on all training requirements and comfortable with everything that goes into building the engines. I think overall we have both benefited from each other."