442nd Planning and Scheduling Forecasts Success

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wesley Wright
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  In the fast-paced world of the 442nd Maintenance Squadron, one must always be a step ahead of the game.

To stay ahead, the 442nd MXS Plans and Scheduling Office forecasts and organizes maintenance activities to keep the wings A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft up and running.

"We keep track of the aircraft records and flying hours," said Senior Master Sgt. Nori Turner, NCO in charge of plans and scheduling. "Also, we keep track of all the parts, the frequency of their maintenance and all the modifications to the aircraft."

Turner said the office schedules maintenance and which aircraft will be set aside for phase inspections. This ensures pilots always have available aircraft and dependable spares. She does this work chiefly through a computer database.

"Most of this information is stored in the integrated maintenance data system," she said. "This tracks all the parts, all the hours, all the sorties and the landings on each part and aircraft. We put in what the frequencies are on all parts for inspections."

The work is important, she said, because it keeps the mission going.

"It keeps the aircraft healthy and flying," she said. "The main mission is bullets on target; we make sure the aircraft stay healthy and in the air, so the pilot can complete the mission and come back safely."

Turner will soon have more personnel to do this work with the addition of an active-duty Airman to the plans and scheduling team.

"I'm thrilled we are going to have more people here," she said. "The more people we have, the more we can pay attention to the details of doing what needs to be done."

The new Airman, Staff Sgt. Julie Satterfield, 23rd Fighter Group, Detachment 2 documentation specialist, said she is still working out the logistics of moving here.

"It's a big adjustment," she said. "Coming from a larger base in Langley, Va., to Whiteman -- It's different."

Satterfield said she is settling into her new role and learning the ins and outs of working in the Air Force Reserve.

"There are some cultural differences -- the atmosphere is more laid back" she said. "But job-wise it isn't any different."

This is not the first time Satterfield has worked with a Reserve component, as total force integration makes it more common for active and Reserve to work together.

"We had two full-time guardsmen at my last station," she said. "They wear the uniform and do the job just like everyone."

As Satterfield settles in and Turner continues to forecast and schedule maintenance, pilots and maintainers in the wing can rest easy knowing plans and scheduling is keeping America ahead of the curve in airpower.