MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION, Minn. -- Beginning this week, the 934th Maintenance Squadron has a new
tool for maintaining the 934th Airlift Wing's fleet of eight C-130s. The new
version of the C-130 Isochronal Maintenance Stand system arrived here a couple
weeks ago and was first put into place around a 934th C-130 on
Monday.
ISO stands are used to provide access to all parts of the C-130
for the maintainers who work on the aircraft. The new system is part of an Air
Force-wide replacement of ISO stands for all C-130 aircraft. In the case of
the 934th, the old stands date back to 1963. They will now be
recycled.
The new stands are designed with safety being the primary
driver of the design. "With the old stands we had to provide additional fall
protection for our maintainers," said Master Sgt. Jude Quinn, 934th Maintenance
Squadron ISO dock chief. "With these new stands, there is a much greater
surface area for the maintainers to move around on and the entire area is
surrounded by safety railings. It eliminates the need for fall protection and
allows us to do quicker more efficient maintenance on the aircraft," he
said.
In fact, the new stands have more than 7,000 square feet of
surface area compared with the 1,885 of the old stands. They also incorporate
built in electrical, lighting and pneumatic systems that were not present on the
previous version.
The new ISO stands fit together around the aircraft in
segments that are mounted on wheels for easy positioning. The sections are
attached to each other with turnbuckles and sliding panels come together to form
a continuous platform around the aircraft. The huge surface area provides many
options for maintainers to move and position themselves where they need to
be.
"It's a whole new way of doing business for us," said Col. Cam
LeBlanc, 934th Maintenance Group commander. "It creates a safer work
environment for our maintainers while making it easier for them to accomplish
the mission."
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)