Student learn Predator theory at TAMS course

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Diane Ducat
  • 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  When the 163d Reconnaissance Wing's conversion to the MQ-1 Predator took effect, many former KC-135 Stratotanker crew chiefs felt uncertain about what their role would be with the Unmanned Aerial System. But the wing's new Field Training Detachment (FTD) has given instructors and students a renewed motivation and excitement about the crew chief career field. 

Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Systems (TAMS), is just one of the classes taught at the FTD here at March ARB. It's a basic maintenance introduction course about Predator systems theory and is designed for a 5-level crew chief with approximately six months of RQ/MQ-1 flight line experience. 

"This class puts the wing conversion into perspective with mechanics and is what makes the personal conversion," said student Staff Sgt. Aaron Elam. "For example, now I understand my role with the Predator." 

TAMS is a 14-day course that provides students with a series of lectures, progress checks and hands-on training. 

The class provides basic facts, principles and theory of operation of airframe sub-systems. Also the course covers the removal and installation of components, selected rigging and operational checks and inspections. 

"The TAMS course enables students to get familiar with basic maintenance theory with the comfort of learning with their peers." said Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Hatfield, Detachment 26 instructor who teaches TAMS. "They gain confidence at their pace without the pressures of a fast-paced flight line." 

Before the maintenance FTD was operational, crew chiefs were sent to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., to attend the TAMS training. Now that the class is provided here, it allows more opportunity for the students to have the comfort of home while going through the initial training. 

"The schoolhouse equipment and instructors have made this a very informative and enjoyable learning environment," said 163d AMXS TAMS student, Senior Airman Leonard Enciso. 

There are a lot of obvious differences between being a crew chief on a KC-135 and an MQ-1, but one major difference that the class shows the students is there is a lot of hands on involvement with the aircraft. The Predator flies much longer missions which leads to more frequent servicing. In fact, after a Predator's engine accumulates 360 hours of flight time, a crew chief will completely take it apart and rebuild it. 

Sergeant Hatfield explained that having the ability to build this aircraft from the ground up is one major objective for this course. Unlike most aircraft, the Predator, unless flying a mission, must be disassembled, packaged, shipped and reassembled once its reached its destination. 

"As a crew chief, it is rewarding to know that you can completely disassemble and reassemble an aircraft, knowing that it will go on to complete the mission to fly, fight and win," said Sergeant Hatfield. "And that's the kind of pride and values I try to pass down to my students."