News>IAF teams with Charleston for C-17 maintenance training
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A student from the Indian Air Force takes notes during a lecture on the C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 1, 2012 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The training includes classroom time as well as hands-on work where the airmen apply the skills they learned in the classroom on simulation training aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman William O'Brien)
A member of the Indian air force unbolts a tire during a simulated tire change on a C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 2, 2012, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The IAF is sending about 100 of their airmen here for training on various aspects of the C-17 in preparation of standing up their first ever C-17 squadron in India. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman William O'Brien)
A member of the Indian air force cuts safety wire to attach to the C-17 Globemaster III’s tire prior to changing the aircraft’s tire during a simulated C-17 tire change Nov. 2, 2012 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The tire change was part of the IAF’s training with the 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 5. The mission of the 373rd TRS Detachment 5 is to provide aircraft maintenance to the Department of Defense and its allies. About 100 IAF members have been training in the various aspects of C-17 maintenance here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman William O'Brien)
Indian air force Junior Warrant Officer Prakash Chand prepares to take part in a C-17 Globemaster III simulation by going over technical orders on a laptop Nov. 1, 2012, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. IAF airmen are learning various aspects of the C-17 in groups of four students per class. The length of each class varies based on the specialty the students are learning. The courses last an average of four to six weeks. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman William O'Brien)
Staff Sgt. Jeremy Foster, 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 5 electronic environmental electrical environmental instructor, explains different aspects of the C-17 Globemaster III to students from the Indian air force during a hands-on simulator training Nov. 1, 2012 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The IAF plans to send about 100 students to the 373rd to learn various maintenance aspects of the C-17 in preparation of the IAF’s first C-17 squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman William O’Brien)
by Senior Airman William O'Brien
Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
11/8/2012 - JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Indian air force has begun sending about 100 airmen to Joint Base Charleston to receive instruction from the 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 5, on how to operate the 10 C-17 Globemaster IIIs they recently purchased.
"The Indian air force purchased the C-17s and they need the training because these Indian airmen are going to be the ones standing up the initial C-17 unit (in India) and we were nominated to be the school house that teaches them," said Tech. Sgt. Paul Higgins, 373rd TRS Detachment 5 electrical environmental instructor.
The 373rd TRS Detachment 5's mission is to provide aircraft maintenance to the Department of Defense and its allies.
"We are learning the basics of the aircraft as well as the technical manual, which is quite helpful in learning the part numbers and other technical aspects of the C-17," said Indian air force Junior Warrant Officer Prakash Chand.
Each specialty-specific class has four students. The length of the course varies by specialty, but usually lasts about four to six weeks.
"We teach across the board" said Higgins. "Every specialty we have on the C-17, we are teaching here. We have electrical environmental, communication, navigation and general crew chief functions, just to name a few."
The training includes classroom time as well as hands on work where the new maintainers apply the skills they learned in the classroom on simulation training aircraft.
"What we're learning here is going to help us to be able to maintain the C-17 aircraft in India," said IAF Junior Warrant Officer Ranbir Singh Rana. "We have very good and experienced instructors and very good communication with them. We are catching on very quickly and when we have questions, they are able to clear up things quickly."
The IAF expects to receive their 10 C-17s in June 2013. India paid $4.1 billion for the aircraft, which is expected to replace their IL-76 fleet.
The C-17 provides the Indian air force with a payload of 164,900 pounds and can take off from a 7,000-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small, austere airfield with runways of 3,000 feet or less. The C-17 is equipped with an externally blown flap system that allows a steep, low-speed final approach and low-landing speeds for routine short-field landings.
The first group of students is slated to graduate Nov. 8.
