Travis gets FAA approval for exams

  • Published
  • By Merrie Schilter-Lowe
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  What began as an "ah-hah" moment with three senior reservists at Travis Air Force Base, California, has become a reality: Aircraft maintenance technicians can get their Federal Aviation Administration airframe and powerplant certification without leaving the base. 

Travis is the first military installation to get FAA approval to offer the written, oral and practical exams, said Glenn Gathright, an FAA aviation safety inspector with the Flight Standards District Office in Oakland, California. It took about five years to get the program approved, he said. 

"The base education center was already approved to administer the written exams. It was just logical to get approval to offer the oral and practical exams on base as well," said Gathright, a retired senior master sergeant who was assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis. 

The written exams test an Airman's knowledge of the aircraft and general aviation principles while the oral and practical exams test his or her ability to actually maintain the airframe and powerplant systems. 

When the team began work on the project, Airmen who passed the written exam had to contact the FAA to find a designated mechanic examiner to administer the O&P exams. The Airman would have to travel to the DME's location. 

"We wanted to make it more convenient for military members to get their certification," said Senior Master Sergeant Joseph Conklin, a reservist assigned to the 349th Maintenance Group at Travis. 

Conklin also is the airside operations manager with the Sacramento County Department of Airports.  As team lead, he drafted all of the technical writings and memorandums of understanding for the program since Travis falls within the jurisdiction of the Sacramento FSDO.

The team's efforts to bring the O&P exams on base seems prescient. Earlier this year, the Air Force implemented the Credentialing Opportunities On-Line Program to assist Airmen with finding and obtaining civilian credentials to enhance their job performance now and make them more competitive in the civilian job market when they leave the military. AF COOL also covers the cost of licenses and associated exam fees for qualified Airmen. 

Most large U.S. companies with electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic systems require maintainers to have A&P certification, said Master Sgt. Matt Parker, an Air Reserve Technician and FAA certified C-17 crew chief with the 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Travis. 

"Having the certification opens the doors to a lot more companies, including oil and engineering companies, electric and construction companies and even Google," said Parker, who helped procure engines and equipment for the project.

Since regulations prevented using Air Force assets for the project, team members sought donations.  They received equipment and tools from two Bay Area aviation schools and two aircraft companies in Solano County.  What they couldn't get from donations, they paid for out of pocket.

"We have everything needed to test their (technician's) knowledge of brakes, landing gear, flight controls, turbine engines and starters," said Ed Miyamoto, the first DME to volunteer to administer O&P exams on base. 

Miyamoto, who lives in Rio Vista, California, also donated aircraft parts and equipment for the program.   

Airmen can go anywhere in the United States to take their FAA exams, according to Miyamoto.  However, taking them on base could be a boon. "It can take up to nine hours to complete the exams," Miyamoto said. 
 
Aside from getting approval for the project, the teams' biggest challenge was finding a location. The base aero club was being relocated off base and they couldn't use Air Force facilities. Fortunately, another member of the triad, retired Senior Master Sgt. Terry Juran, suggested the heritage center. At the time, Juran was also assigned to the 349th AMXS.

"We have the space," said Master Sgt. Aaron Wallenburg, museum superintendent and acting curator.  "There's not much difference between the equipment we use to restore vintage aircraft and the equipment used on the flightline."

In decades past, the museum was the base commissary so the cold storage area became the test site in June.     

Ease of access to FAA certification was at the heart of the project, but it wasn't the only reason the team wanted to bring the mechanical tests on base.  

"They wanted to make sure that the Air Force didn't lose all of its certified maintainers," said Maj. Carlton Thompson, 349th AMXS commander.  "They had all been encouraged to get their certification at an early age.  They wanted to pass on a tradition that has lapsed over the years."  

The maintenance commander said he became involved in the project because the senior NCOs "said they needed someone with rank," he said lightheartedly.

The project would not have been possible without senior leaderships' support, said Conlin. He and Gathright praised Col. Leonard Kosinski, former 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, and Col. Jeffrey Pickard, 349th MXG commander, for pushing the proposal through proper channels. 

Gathright also praised Bob Zirzow, museum volunteer, who donated countless hours "cleaning and setting up the testing area," and Master Sgt. Kenneth Greenwell, an Air Reserve Technician with the 749th AMXS at Travis AFB. 

"Kenny put in so much time on this project, organizing and procuring tools and test equipment," said Gathright. 

Greenwell, who is also an FAA certified mechanic, is the program representative, maintaining accountability for all assets and scheduling exams.  Eventually, 17 civilian and military members worked on the project, said Conklin. 

"This was truly a team effort," he added. 

For more information or to schedule O&P exams, contact Greenwell at 925-759-4080, e-mail kenneth.greenwell.2@us.af.mil; or contact Conklin at 916-475-3463, joseph.l.conklin@gmail.com