Airmen Worked 5 Years To Revamp F-22 Maintenance

Maintenance technicians from the Hawaii Air National Guard (ANG) spent five years working on custom stands for working on the F-223 Raptor. Together with the National Guard Bureau (NGB) they developed a more efficient and safer way to access hard-to-reach areas on the aircraft that could be used to improve routine maintenance on additional aircraft.

In 2019, Master Sgt. Scott Kamali’I, a supervisor in the 154th Maintenance Squadron, along with his team identified the critical need to replace outdated equipment used in routine maintenance. They set out to create a design that addressed safety, functionality, and the unique demands of the F-22.

Kamali’i said, “Our Airmen needed something more reliable and user-friendly than ladders and makeshift platforms. We saw an opportunity to solve a longstanding issue and improve working conditions for maintainers.”

Progress was slow, but in 2020 Master Sgt. Preston Yockeman attended a tool convention and observed some things that provided insight on how to refine the unit’s proposal and get the project moving forward.

Yockeman said, “Maintenance on the F-22 comes with unique challenges, and we knew we couldn’t settle for one-size-fits-all solutions. We needed something designed with our maintainers in mind.”

With the new ideas, the refined proposal gained the support of the NGB they created a system of stands that are tailored to and wrap around the shape of the F-22’s angular profile, creating a set of spacious, stable, and safe work platforms. They provide for efficient movement of personnel that reduces strain, and minimizes the potential for accidental damage to the aircraft.

Kamali’i said, “These stands are a game changer. They’re not just safer, but they also reduce downtime, enhance efficiency, and improve the overall quality of life for our maintainers.”

The system of stands are gaining adoption across other units and are already improving maintenance ops and aircraft readiness significantly.

FMI:  www.nationalguard.mil/