US Air Force,
by Senior Airman Ross M. Tweten
380th Air Expeditionary Wing
Southwest Asia: The eyes of the U-2 have been scanning and scrutinizing the battlespace for more than 51 years. Achieving that degree of longevity requires another set of eyes, equal in power and focus to that of the U-2's eyes, scanning and scrutinizing the aircraft itself for defects, imperfections, deficiencies and impediments.
Those eyes belong to a small group of Airmen and civilians who've maintained the U-2 during its inimitable history.
A critical facet of this maintenance is the phase dock inspection. The members of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's phase inspection team in Southwest Asia, consisting of roughly 30 civilian contracted technicians from Lockheed who are permanently stationed here serving in the war on terrorism alongside their uniformed comrades, recently completed a phase inspection.
Conducted every 600 flight hours, phase dock inspection is a systematic check and breakdown of every nook and cranny of the aircraft. Every part and piece of equipment is examined, repaired, modified or changed. The typical phase inspection spans 12 days, 24 hours per day, as literally thousands of checks are completed, to ensure everything is tip top and ship shape.
The main goal of phase inspection is to simply make the aircraft better than it was prior to the inspection, said 1st Lt. Joseph Bennett of the 380th EAMXS.
“This aircraft has been flying for a long time, and phase is a very important aspect of the aircraft's longevity,” he said. “It ensures we're keeping up with overall maintenance of the jets and that they continue flying well, resulting in effective missions.”
The U-2s are deployed here from Beale Air Force Base, Calif.
The crew's attention to detail during a phase inspection is as important as the detailed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance the U-2 brings back after its missions. The U-2 provides high-altitude, all-weather surveillance and reconnaissance, day or night, in direct support of U.S. and allied forces.
It delivers critical imagery and signals intelligence to decision makers throughout all phases of conflict, including peacetime indications and warnings, low-intensity conflict, and large-scale hostilities.
“Cohesiveness between the phase team is very important as every detail must be briefed to an oncoming shift of what has been done and what needs to be done,” Lieutenant Bennett said. “It's crucial to the success of phase.”
Every aspect of phase is important, said Rob Coates, the 380th EAMXS phase dock chief. Some phase tasks are more difficult than others, but no matter what the task, nothing short of perfection is required.
“Certain phase tasks take a lot of talent,” he said.
“There are many places in this aircraft that are extremely tight and cramped where components need to be fixed or changed. There's minimal space to work with, while long hours are being spent in those spaces, but when you're dealing with the extreme altitudes that a U-2 pilot experiences. There's no room for failure, and that pilot expects nothing but perfection, and that's what we put out.”
Once the checks and rechecks are completed and the aircraft is put back together, the pilot completes the functional check flight and declares the aircraft combat ready. Then, the phase clock is reset and it will be another 600 hours of flying time until the next phase inspection is due.
Just as the U-2 only has eyes for the battlespace, the phase dock crew only has eyes for the high-flying aircraft.
“It's an honor to be a part of this aircraft's great history,” Mr. Coates said. “There are a lot of guys here who have been with this airframe for quite a while. This aircraft kind of grabs hold of you, and it's one of those things that you'll always come back to. We have a definite affection for the Dragon Lady.”
