660th AMXS spans globe with planes, deployments

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  • By 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
  • 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron provides combat-ready maintenance personnel and organizational support to inspect, service and repair all transit and assigned KC-10A Extender aircraft, totaling 46 percent of the Department of Defense inventory. 

They generate aerial refueling and strategic airlift to support four aerial refueling squadrons and all Air Mobility Command missions, while maintaining aircraft, personnel and equipment for world-wide deployment supporting Travis Air Force Base, AMC's largest wing. 

The 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is comprised of more than 300 maintainers.  At any given time, between 30 and 50 are deployed globally, frequently to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The 660th AMXS is responsible for inspecting, servicing and repairing 27 assigned KC-10 aircraft.  When deployed, the members of the 660th are responsible for servicing between 10 and 14 KC-10s. 

The squadron is comprised of various sections, each with a specific task.    

The Production section is responsible for all maintenance actions and ensuring that there are enough mission-ready aircraft to meet local and off-station flying requirements.

The Aircraft Power Plant general section is comprised of the crew chiefs responsible for the general inspection and maintenance actions on the aircraft.  This section also includes flying crew chiefs who fly off-site missions with the aircraft to perform inspections and minor repairs when the aircraft are off station.

The Specialist section includes maintainers with specific areas of expertise. They work on the aircraft engines, electrics, communication and navigation, and guidance and control.

The Mobility section of the squadron handles all readiness requirements to ensure deployed requirements are met, while ensuring any potential real world taskings could be supported. 

The Support section include maintenance, serviceability and strict accountability of all tools and equipment used on the aircraft. They also are in charge of -21, the mission support equipment installed on the aircraft, such as aircraft seats and lavatories. Another role is being in charge of debrief, where the aircrews relay any issues they experienced in flight which are then written up for repair.

Annually, the 660th provides aircraft for more than 8,000 sorties for 50,000 flying hours, supporting the refueling of more than 30,000 receiver aircraft in support of the 60th Air Mobility Wing's demanding Global Mobility mission. They also repair around 5,000 pilot reported discrepancies, performing 40,000 maintenance actions.

The 660th AMXS has provided continuous support for 12 major operations and exercises globally, participating in a wide range of missions ranging from homeland defense and presidential support to humanitarian relief and combined training with the Australian Air Force. The 660th is currently providing support to Operation Inherent Resolve, refueling fighters and bombers performing air strikes in Iraq and Syria.