LANGLEY AFB, VA. –
As part of the necessary BRAC process to integrate the F-22A Raptor into the 27th and 94th fighter squadrons, three of approximately 25 scheduled F-15 Eagles were transferred to the 67th FS/Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Wednesday.
After the Raptors began arriving in late 2004, the 27th and 94th FS' transferred their assigned Eagles to the 71st Fighter Squadron; however, because of the excess of aircraft assigned to the 71st FS, transfers became necessary.
"The entire transfer process is a domino effect that began in November 2004, when (Eagle) jets were sent to the St. Louis Air National Guard in Missouri and then to Nellis AFB, Nev.," said Capt. Brady Poe, 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "It's necessary in order to get the Raptors integrated and get the 71st to its normal operating strength for primary aircraft assigned."
According to Captain Poe, there is no real "cost" associated with the move because only aircraft - not personnel or equipment will be transferred; however, the gaining unit will get credit for the sorties and hours for the Flying Hour Program.
After Langley sends all of the scheduled Eagles to Kadena, Kadena will transfer its aircraft to the Air National Guard, and the ANG will send jets either to other units or to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (also known as the boneyard) at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., said Captain Poe.
To ensure the aircraft were ready to make the trip to Kadena and arrive in exceptional condition, the Eagles were put in the hands of the 71st AMU maintainers.
"We put highly qualified personnel in a transfer dock to keep continuity and ensure timely and exceptional transfer processes were maintained," Captain Poe said.
The maintainers made sure to go through each item on the checklist before releasing the three aircraft to the 67th FS.
The first step was a modification of the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, a multi-role system that enhances pilot situational awareness and provides head-out control of aircraft targeting systems and sensors. Next, was a two-week transfer inspection followed by an Operational Check Flight for the JHMCS. Finally, a ferry-configuration sortie was flown before the jets departed Langley.
Captain Poe said that throughout the entire preparation process, only minor issues arose from an OCF or a ferry-configuration flight, and those issues were dealt with before the jets were transferred.
"The men and women of the 71st AMU have done a phenomenal job with their ability to handle simultaneous JHMCS modifications, transfer schedules and normal day-to-day operations," Captain Poe said.