MOC coordinates mission

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Madelyn Brown
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The intricate coordination among maintenance, aircrew, cargo loaders, fuels and many other support units begins many hours before take-off, and requires accurate information movement to keep the mission safe and successful.

The 60th Maintenance Operations Center, usually comprised of 5 Airmen per 12-hour shift, acts as an information hub for all the agencies and their different tasks to work effectively together, and keep each jet on schedule, said Senior Airman Samuel Montgomery, 60th Maintenance Operations controller.

"We are the focal point of all the information in regards to all Travis tails," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Mahoney, MOC senior controller. "We hear every radio on the flightline, and act as the middle man between those on the flightline and the support agency they need."

That support capability is the difference between a safe flight and aircrew flying with improper flight equipment, or of mission execution and mission halt because maintenance needs a back-ordered part expedited.

In addition to coordination, the MOC maintains the integrity of a proper timeline.

"On our deviation reports, we have a sequence of events," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Cintron Ruiz, MOC KC-10 controller. "Within 12 hours from take-off, the aircraft should be mission ready. It requires refuel 7 hours prior, and partial aircrew needs to be in place 1 hour and 45 minutes before take-off."

If there is any delay in the schedule, the MOC coordinates with the Command Post to figure out where the delay was caused and the justification.

"Every morning MOC one reports to Col. Weber (MXG commander) the status of all the aircraft," said Tech. Sgt. Ryan Flynn, MOC section chief. "We need to have the ability to answer any question about the status of any aircraft."

Not only does the MOC funnel information up the chain, but also down the chain so the squadrons working on the flightline have an accurate picture of their work center.

"We expect so much from these NCOs," Flynn said. "We expect them to portray the right information at any moment, and to multi-task support requests while they're doing it. The information chain would not be able to function without them."

The work of the MOC team has manifested in 3,385 missions, 14,976 flying hours and 32,500 cargo tons moved since Aug. 20, 2013.

Outside of the daily operations, the team also coordinates maintenance recovery teams and equipment to fly to other bases and offer support. During in-flight emergencies, ground flight emergencies and severe weather circumstances, the MOC is the first to contact emergency responders such as the fire fighters and provide critical information.

Usually, Airmen from within the 60th MXG are interviewed to be a part of the MOC for a 3-year term. Upon his selection, Mahoney was initially reluctant in his transition from KC-10 Extender maintainer to the faceless MOC coordinator.

"My perspective changed after learning the giant scope of the mission," he said. "I've gained more respect for my maintenance job because I can see how far-reaching its impact is."