Ground equipment keeps planes in the sky

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Whether you are a crew chief on the flight line checking the tire pressure on a C-17 Globemaster III, or a Security Forces defender at the main gate on a cold winter day, you have probably used equipment provided by the Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight from the 436th and 512th Maintenance Squadrons.

This flight, comprised of only 24 personnel, is responsible for more than 400 pieces of equipment that are essential to Team Dover's success.

"We have such an array of different types of equipment," said Joe Mogle, 436th MXS AGE work leader. "And all of our equipment, except for rare occasions is used out on the flight line. The few exceptions include the heaters for the guards at the gates."

Portable diesel generators, heaters, air conditioning, non-powered maintenance stands, air compressors, hydraulic units, nitrogen carts, start carts and light carts are just a few of the variety of equipment pieces that this shop maintains.

"We support the flight line directly," said Senior Airman Nathan Schneck, 436th MXS AGE journeyman. "Not only do we maintain and fix our equipment, we also deliver it directly to the flight line; we pick it back up, service it and fuel it."

The 24 hour, seven days a week shop is full of highly trained Airmen, who typically must make anywhere from 30 to 40 runs out to the flight line, per eight hour shift.

"Without AGE, there is no flying, they won't fly without AGE," Mogle said. "Anything they do with that aircraft out there (flight line), a piece of our equipment is involved."