News United States Air Force
 Vt. ANG prepares for F-35 arrivalPublished July 24, 2019
                        
                        By 158th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
                **SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AFNS) --**
                Airmen across the 158th Fighter Wing gathered at the 158th Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic management office to assist with the landmark induction of support equipment for the F-35 Lightning II mission. Aspects of data compliance and inventory procedural guidance are some of the required tasks in efforts to effectively support the Vermont Air National Guard’s new mission in the upcoming months.
The partnership between the 158th FW consists of the visiting staff from BAE Systems, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation and Pratt & Whitney aerospace company who are assisting members through the technical phases of induction. Vermont Airmen saw the vast majority of this phase in the process to completion July 17 following the divesting process, in which the last of the F-16 Fighting Falcon equipment was shipped off-station the week prior.
Vermont Airmen worked diligently to uncrate a variety of F-35 equipment, parts and pieces so they can be accounted for and tracked in the new multipurpose autonomic logistics information system, a contracted entity that was sourced by Lockheed Martin. Representatives from Lockheed assisted with this process as ALIS is unique to the F-35 platform--an all-encompassing entity to track tasks, such as air vehicle maintenance, supply orders, inventory and tool accountability.
Although the induction process is tedious, it is a Federal Aviation Administration requirement to adhere to the mechanisms of compliance that this team accomplished together.
“We provide a sustainment service to assist the servicemember in making sure they have everything they need,” said Mr. Tony Smith, a member of the F-35 Global Sustainment Operations Supportability Group. “The difference I’ve noticed in working with the (Vermont Airmen) is they have been very proactive in this process!”
The induction process was slotted to take two weeks, from unpacking to ready-for-use in maintenance. In two-day’s time, 100% of the equipment had been unpacked and inventoried. Given the proactive and dedicated nature of the team, the traffic management office anticipates the induction to conclude earlier than expected.
Aside from the toolboxes slotted to arrive at the end of the first week, the efficiency of this process exceeded the typical timeline. All support equipment processes for this induction were expected to conclude before the middle of the second week.
“The team has been doing very well,” said Master Sgt. James Flinchbaugh, 158th FW traffic management office superintendent. “Obviously, it’s a whole new system and until this week we have never seen ALIS, much less used it. So, we’re getting hands-on training as we’re inducting the parts, and we have a great support team.”FS 



ANG 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Vermont 



Air National Guard 



Airmen 



F-35 



Lightning II 



Stealth 



fifth-generation 



fighter 



Plane 



Aircraft 



Autonomic Logistics Information System 



f-16 



Fighting Falcon 



divesting 



158th Fighter Wing