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From high\u2011speed research flights to high\u2011altitude science campaigns, NASA depends on aircraft that perform at their best and the ground crews who keep them mission ready.<\/p>\n
At NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, specially trained maintenance crews are essential to keeping the agency\u2019s aircraft flying safely and reliably.<\/p>\n
This year, NASA added two F-15s and a Pilatus PC-12 to its fleet at Armstrong. These aircraft \u2013 alongside platforms such as the high-altitude ER-2s and NASA\u2019s newest X-plane, the X-59 \u2013 reflect a wide range of capabilities. The maintenance staff is responsible for keeping each one mission ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the beauty of our Armstrong maintenance teams. They adapt to any type of change,\u201d said Jose \u201cManny\u201d Rodriguez, NASA Armstrong Gulfstream G-IV crew chief. \u201cOne day you could have an instrument being loaded, and the next day it may be aircraft reconfiguration, all while other aircraft systems may need fixing. They adapt and they overcome any situation.\u201d <\/p>\n
Each aircraft supports a specific mission, whether it\u2019s conducting science research, serving as a support or chase aircraft, or assisting NASA rocket launches. The aircraft fly at different speeds, carry specialized hardware, and require maintenance crews to stay agile with fast-paced changes.<\/p>\n
To ensure NASA can make aeronautics and science advancements safely, the crews work continuously, checking on the ejection seats, filling the tanks with fuel, and changing out brakes, wheels, wiring, and hardware constantly, all of which can degrade with each flight.<\/p>\n
On any given day, an aircraft may be flight-ready for a mission, undergoing scheduled maintenance or modifications, or down for longer-term care.<\/p>\n
There are typically multiple NASA Armstrong aircraft in the air in one day. Currently, the center\u2019s C-20A is flying in Peru and Panama, the X-59 is often \u00a0flying twice per day with a chase plane, and the center\u2019s ER-2 is flying in Colorado, supporting the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx). All this work is happening at the same time, and Armstrong\u2019s skilled maintenance staff is prepping and fixing aircraft as needed along the way.<\/p>\n
The team includes mechanics with both military and civilian backgrounds, and the job involves a lot of on-the-job training.<\/p>\n
Maintenance crews are composed of:<\/p>\n
After the maintenance crew ensures the aircraft is in the best condition possible, the team tows it out to the flightline, and it becomes ready for operations. The NASA pilot assigned to the mission will walk around the aircraft with the assigned crew chief for a final safety check before flight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a crew chief assigned to every aircraft,\u201d Rodriguez said. \u201cThe crew chief is responsible for the integrity of that aircraft, and at the end of the day, his signature and the pilot\u2019s together are what constitutes that the aircraft is safe for flight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maintenance crews track each flight to help ensure it completes the mission without returning early. If an aircraft does return to base early, the maintenance team stands ready. When it lands, the crew is right there again, helping the research team complete the mission and fixing whatever is needed to stay nimble and ready for the next flight. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult at times to work with different airplanes from both the civilian and military sides, but it\u2019s very rewarding to see that we have the capability and the expertise to keep these aircraft flying,\u201d Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n