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Reservists oversee Dover C-5 avionics modernization program

  • Published
  • By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Bought a C-5 lately? Chief Master Sgt. Donald Cunningham has. 

He technically hasn't purchased anything, but "buying" C-5s is part of the 512th Acceptance Check Flight superintendant's job. 

It's the term the 512th ACF uses for the C-5 Galaxys they've inspected and accepted back into the Air Force inventory after receiving a modernized glass cockpit and avionics upgrade as part of the Avionics Modernization Program. 

"The mission of the ACF is to ensure the best possible airplane is delivered to the U.S. Air Force," said the 512th ACF flight engineer. "We just don't fly the jet; we use this opportunity to ensure that the Air Force is receiving a safe, properly modified, mission-capable airplane." 

Dover and Travis Air Force Base, Calif., are overseeing the AMP modifications of all the Air Force Reserve Command C-5s and will manage the rest of the C-5 fleet's conversion through 2015. The AMP modification is required before the C-5s can undergo the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, which replaces the old engines with a quieter and more powerful turbo fan engine. 

The C-5 Galaxy, one of the world's largest aircraft that carries supplies and combat-ready military units around the globe at any time, has been the backbone of America's strategic airlift fleet since the late 1960s. However, years of wear and tear impacted the C-5s reliability rates, yet testing revealed the C-5 fleet had 80 percent of its structural service life remaining. Rather than doing away with the aircraft, Lockheed Martin proposed a plan in September 1998 to update the C-5 Galaxy fleet with new avionics and engines. 

The C-5s are upgraded in two phases beginning with AMP at the Lockheed Martin plant in Marietta, Ga., and is followed by the RERP at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. After both upgrades are complete, an aircraft is redesignated as a C-5M Super Galaxy. More than 50 C-5s will be converted to the C-5M, and Dover, which has had all its C-5s modified with the glass cockpits, is slated to get its first C-5M in February 2009, said Chief Cunningham. 

The Air Force Material Command controls the AMP process and provides the acceptance and functional check requirements to the ACF. Dover's ACF interfaces with the major commands and contractors daily to ensure the modified aircraft meet contract requirements and are delivered on schedule. 

"We perform a detailed review of the contractor's records ensuring all the requirements have been met," said Chief Cunningham. "The ACF crew then completes detailed ground and flight functional checks." 

Once the aircraft passes the strict criteria, the ACF accepts the plane back into the Air Force inventory and AFMC transfers the C-5 to its gaining command. This process is referred to as "buying" the aircraft and can take anywhere from 10 days to six weeks, he said. 

The ACF here consists of four pilots and four flight engineers. All except one of those crewmembers are from the 512th AW. 

"The reserve is overseeing the program at Dover, so it can free up the active force for the Global War on Terrorism," said Lt. Col. Tim Lyon, ACF chief. "By taking it over, it reduced some of the stress on them and freed up their personnel." 

Proud of their flight, the colonel and chief emphasized that not just anyone can become a member of the ACF. 

"Only the top .05 percent of C-5 flight crew members are considered for this job," said the chief. "The training is very extensive and specialized, because flight members must have an indepth knowledge of C-5 systems and components and must fly in unusual conditions while performing functional flight checks." 

These unusual flight conditions consist of flying the aircraft in a manner that will set off the plane's emergency and alarm systems to ensure they work properly, said Colonel Lyon who served 10 years on active duty before transferring to the Liberty Wing nine years ago. 

Because of their experience with the AMP, the 512th ACF has written many of the operating procedures and provided updates to flight manuals for the modified C-5s, said Chief Cunningham. Their experience was also used to train their ACF counterparts at Travis AFB. 

Having been a crewmember on the C-5 for almost 30 years, the flight engineer said he has an affinity for the C-5 and is excited about Dover receiving its first C-5M. 

"It's an impressive aircraft," said the chief. "Dover's a busy base with all of its world-wide commitments, and nothing hauls cargo like a C-5."