Dover AFSO21 project helps improve C-5M

Published March 27, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th AW Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, active-duty and Reserve Airmen here were able to improve the reliability and life expectancy of the C-5M Super Galaxy.

AFSO21 is the Air Force's dedicated effort to maximize value and minimize waste in all of our processes.

"We identified the whole process with our Dewars and fire suppression system of the aircraft as being one of the leading causes of downtime for the aircraft," said Master Sgt. Jay Haller, 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electro environment person. "Sometimes it was taking three weeks to get an airplane back in the sky because of some of the defects."

In August 2008 Airmen from maintenance squadrons, fuel, front and back line shops came together to see what they could do to make the system better.

They came up with a lot of ideas but soon realized they weren't going to be able to implement many of the fixes at the field level.

In April 2009 they went to a product improvement working group at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and developed lines of communication with the engineers.

In May 2009 they put together a Dewar conference here which included two engineers from Robins AFB, seven engineers from Lockheed Martin, C-5 community maintainers, and people from Parker Hannifin, the manufacturer.

"For two days, we had the best and the brightest in one room talking about the system and what we needed to upgrade it," said Haller.

Oxygen is pushed out allowing the nitrogen to put out the fire. Also by placing nitrogen into the fuel itself there is no oxygen so there is less chance of having a fire inside the fuel tank.

What has been developed and improved through the AFSO21 process are redesigned valves, a universal wiring harness, an upgraded FSS control panel, and better seals and plumbing.

The first upgraded jet is in the Dover isochronal maintenance dock.

"The team's work has come to fruition and 100 percent of C-5M aircraft are being retrofitted with the new system," said Chief Master Sgt. Chris Ford, 512th Maintenance Squadron superintendent.

Ford said the system is an improvement that came about through an enterprising teamwork effort spanning across multiple Air Force and Department of Defense agencies.

"The Dewar system augments the congressionally authorized C-5M Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program modernization program and enables an aged aircraft to operate beyond the year 2040 while simultaneously fostering an increase in C-5 reliability, something that has plagued the aircraft over its 40-plus year lifespan," said Ford.

Dewar tank