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Avionics Fundamentals trainers increase efficiency, decrease damage to GITA

  • Published
  • By Julie Svoboda
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas --  

The 82nd Training Support Squadron recently fabricated and delivered ten multi-station training units to the Avionics Fundamentals course that will be used to provide roughly 11,392 hours of instruction while saving wear and tear on ground instructional training aircraft.

Members of seven 82nd Training Wing organizations collaborated to identify training needs, locate and then harvest parts from ground instructional training aircraft to enable the design and fabrication of the trainers, which resolve four training deficiencies and support two new training objectives.

A man holds an aircraft component.

Staff Sgt. Justin Smith, 365th TRS F-16 Avionics Instructor, examines one of the components of the new Avionics Fundamentals trainers August 8, 2024 at Sheppard Air Force Base. The trainers were designed and built by the 82d TRSS with assistance from the 782nd TRG. U.S. Air Force photo by Julie Svoboda
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Training Manager Enrique Infante, 365th Training Squadron, initiated the project after analyzing how using GITA would require additional instructional time, an additional instructor and resources to repair or replace the units, which were not designed to be removed and reassembled thousands of times per year. Infante said cutting back on hands-on instruction isn’t an option, as most students need at least three attempts removing and replacing the components to demonstrate proficiency.

“We did some math to put the number of times a single component will be removed and installed to meet the learning outcome,” he said. “Specifically for the heavies course, using fiscal year 24 projected throughput of 1,241 students, a single component will be removed 3,723 times annually; not including an instructor demonstrating the task.”

Training managers from fighters and heavies met with the 82nd TRSS to confirm specifications – trainers with multiple line replaceable units that can be used in classes for fighters or heavies maintainers. Mechanical Engineer Kyle Kidwell, 82nd TRSS, designed the trainers and 782nd Training Group Operation Managers Daphne Adams and Chris Westbrook used their networks to find and harvest the missing pieces.

Approximately six months later, the trainers were delivered.

Removing a panel from one side of the trainer, Staff Sgt. Justin Smith, 365th TRS F-16 Avionics Instructor, pointed out the slide racks, shock mounted racks and cockpit panels that make up the workstations of the trainer. He explained that the new equipment not only helps preserve GITA but increases training efficiency as well.

“When we would use the aircraft to swap the components, we could only have one Airman removing the component at a time,” he said. “With the new avionics fundamental trainer, we can have multiple groups of Airmen working at the same time. This allows the Airmen to practice more and perfect fundamental techniques that will be used on the flightline.”

Although taking an idea and making it a reality is what the 82nd TRSS is known for, Project Manager Patrick Gilbert credited the combined efforts of all involved for the success of this project.

“Multiple organizations from the 82nd TRSS and 782nd TRG applied their unique skills to form a cohesive integrated process team eliminating four training deficiency alerts before they occurred,” he said. “From the repurposing of obsolete trainer parts to locating and reusing Sheppard’s GITA parts, they ensured Sheppard’s training mission did not waver!”