Hands-on aids boost F-35A maintenance

Aviation technicians will be able to hone their skills on the most accurate F-35A maintenance training aids, with the arrival of two new purpose-built pieces of equipment in April.

CAPTION: Aircraft technician Corporal Samuel Perrin, of 3 Squadron, conducts acceptance testing on the Integrated Training Centre F-35A engine training aids received from the US. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photos by Corporal Cath Kelly.

The Integrated Training Centre (ITC) at RAAF Base Williamtown has received an F135 Engine Maintenance and Borescope Trainer and a First Stage Blade Blend Trainer – the first of its kind to be delivered to a country outside the United States.

According to Corporal Daniel Jackson, an ITC instructor and aviation technician (ATECH) with seven years of F-35A experience, the equipment is almost identical to the real thing.

“If you didn’t know what you were looking at, you’d think it was a real engine. A lot of the materials are genuine,” Corporal Jackson said.

“The internals are mock but they are so realistic, down to the point where they have airbrushed wear pattern details to match a reference image of a real engine. It’s pretty incredible.”

Technicians can practise true-to-life engine maintenance including module splits, borescope inspections of the turbine, and diagnose induced faults with pre-damaged components.

They will also be able to train in hands-on repair of damaged fan blades; a task Corporal Jackson said was critical to get correct.

“We blend the blades with files back into a conformed aerofoil design. It’s titanium so it takes a bit to get the material off and if you go out of limits you’ll make it unserviceable,” he said.

“That’s why it’s such an important piece to train, because we want people to be confident and comfortable actually doing it in a real job.”

Before the training aids arrived, aviation technicians relied on classroom and simulator learning, following up with on-aircraft maintenance.

Officer in Command of the Integrated Training Centre Squadron Leader Damian Richardson said having the equipment in Australia would result in better and more timely training.

An F135 engine specialist course, borescope course and first-stage blade blend course have been developed for the new equipment.

“We build up experience in the ITC and the ATECHs take that back out to the squadrons, so when the operational squadrons need to do engine changes or module splits on deployment, it’s not the first time doing that task,” Squadron Leader Richardson said.

“It’s not too often in a command role that you get to see new capability delivered on time and without any issues.”

This is the last significant maintenance training device delivery from the AIR6000 PH2A/B project, responsible for the acquisition of the F-35A.

CAPTION: Clockwise from top left, Pratt and Whitney instructor Jose Nemez conducts engine training checks with Milskil contractor Paul Wagstaff and aircraft technicians Corporal Daniel Jackson and Corporal Samuel Perrin.

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