From: CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil>
Subject: Air Combat Command News 07/27/92 
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 12:57:44 GMT


From CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afnews.pa.af.mil>

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ACC 92-029  FAIRCHILD AFB TEAM IMPROVES ON-TIME B-52 TAKEOFFS
ACC 92-030  COMMANDER TAKES STEPS TO FURTHER INTEGRATE AIRPOWER
ACC 92-029
FAIRCHILD AFB TEAM IMPROVES ON-TIME B-52 TAKEOFFS
By Amn. Brian Herberger
92nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
    FAIRCHILD AFB, Wash. (ACCNS) -- "Quality in action" recently
became more than just buzz words for some maintenance people in
the 92nd Bomb Wing at Fairchild AFB.
    Now, it means people taking action to improve on-time takeoffs
for B-52s.
    The 92nd BW Senior Leadership Council noticed a growing
problem in late takeoffs affecting aircrew training and mission
readiness.  The council assigned a maintenance quality improvement
team, then called a process action team under Strategic Air
Command, to tackle the problem.
    "If we give the aircrew a quality aircraft at takeoff, then
the likelihood of a successful mission is also higher," said Col.
Michael Ruotsala, 92nd Bomb Wing commander.
    Early in the improvement process, the team learned that the
aircraft readiness center, debriefing and maintenance analysis
varied in the accuracy of data.  In order for information to be
meaningful, it had to be consistent and reliable.  
    "The key to eliminating late takeoffs is getting accurate data
concerning equipment, procedures and people," said Lt. Col. Gary
Ryden, team member.
    The team focused on improvement based on accurate data, not
hunches, to look for problems, not symptoms, and to seek permanent
solutions, not quick fixes.  Because of this, procedures were set
to coordinate data collection for the improvement process.
    "People early in the improvement process were hesitant to give
honest, accurate information.  They knew how to improve the
process but were reluctant to say.  Once people realized the wing
was sincere in its effort to improve the process, and wasn't
looking to cast blame, the flood gates to quality improvement
opportunities opened," said Capt. Terry Marshall, quality advisor
for the team.
    "This team didn't sit in a room isolated from the flight line,
the crew and maintenance.  We took our knowledge and data, put it
to use and actually changed the process," said SMSgt. Danna
Roberts, team member.
    Team members initially took five steps to eliminate obvious
problem areas.  They increased emphasis on quality in all levels
of management, limited B-52s to one sortie a day, reduced the time
parts spent in tail number bins, set a monthly no-flying day for
quality training and cut the number of scheduling changes.
    The effort paid off.  The B-52 late takeoff rate dropped and
morale increased, proving to the team that quality in action works
when properly applied to a process that needs improvement.
                               -30-
ACC 92-030
COMMANDER TAKES STEPS TO FURTHER INTEGRATE AIRPOWER
    LANGLEY AFB, Va. (ACCNS) -- A number of initiatives in Air
Combat Command will move the Air Force even closer to its vision
of integrated aerospace power, according to Gen. John Michael Loh,
ACC commander.
    Using fighters and bombers as an example, the general said
efforts to put these types of aircraft in composite fighting and
training packages for conventional roles are well underway.
    "We are including bombers in our flying exercises like Red
Flag and Green Flag, and in our joint exercises like Ocean
Venture," Loh said.  "We are also using them in our overseas joint
exercises like Central Enterprise.
    "We're changing the mission statements of the bomber squadrons
to give them more of a conventional role than they had before.
We're building a training syllabus to emphasize composite
operations.  In the composite wings that are coming together, we
now have B-52s assigned to the 366th Wing at Mountain Home AFB,
Idaho, flying today in integrated force packages with F-15s, F-16s
and AWACS.
    "We have a plan to incorporate the B-1 in the overseas
deployment program we call Checkered Flag so that in the future we
will be deploying B-1s and perhaps even B-52s, depending on what
base we fly to.  So we are already putting together the packages
that we would use in deployments better than if we continued with
two commands -- one emphasizing conventional roles and the other
nuclear."
    On the nuclear portion of ACC's global power mission,
particularly the missile forces, Loh expressed full confidence
that they are also ready to deter aggression.
    "I was recently out at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., for the first
launch of an operational ICBM in ACC.  The flawless Peacekeeper
launch was a good demonstration of the professionalism of our ICBM
force.  I've also met the Minuteman crews at Grand Forks AFB,
N.D.  Although the missile force of the future will be smaller, it
will still be an integral part of our total combat capability in
ACC," Loh said.
    On the reconnaissance and battle management side of ACC, Loh
said plans have been approved to expand 2nd Air Force beyond the
U-2s at Beale AFB, Calif., and the RC-135s at Offutt AFB, Neb.
    "Second Air Force will take on the AWACS wing at Tinker AFB,
Okla., and the Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center
C-130s at Keesler AFB, Miss.  In the future we'll add the upcoming
JSTARS (Joint Surveillance Tracking and Radar System) unit at
Robbins AFB, Ga.
    "After three weeks of the reorganization, I could see a need
to expand our capabilities in the reconnaissance and battle
management area.  This will give 2nd Air Force a special-purpose
role, controlling some very valuable assets to give our operators
real-time support.  I think we will continue to find more and
better ways to integrate aerospace power.  We have been able to
make many improvements in our operations already as a result of
the Air Force restructuring."
    Besides bringing about improvements in Air Force operations,
Loh also feels recent international developments show the Air
Force took the right direction by integrating airpower to meet
future threats.
    "An important change we've seen in the international arena
 
 
is the agreement on nuclear weapons reached between President
Bush and Russia's President Boris Yeltsin, which confirms the
direction we've been heading -- that is, to reduce the quantity
of nuclear weapons.  This is very significant to the future.
America's foreign policies confirm that our leaders have been
correct in restructuring the Air Force the way we have."
 
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