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Show NEWS July 21, 1989 7 Hilltop Times s Quiz by Sgt. AFLC Jane Barber Office of Public Affairs Ohio AFB, A vital aircraft sits silent, awaiting the (AFLCNS) engine repair necessary to get it back in the air. Time is of the essence; there's only one group of people to call a contract field team. When maintenance tasks need to be accomplished by contractors, the Contract Field Team Program, administered by the Air Force Contract Maintenance Center, Wright-Patterso- n AFB, Ohio, is the means of doing repairs, modifications or maintenance on equipment, according to Norm Cohen, director, Contract Management. "CFTs are very productive units because they can be sent anywhere in the world on short notice," he said. "Because of the flexibility of the contracts, in a truly emergency situation, CFTs can be on the move in a matter of hours after the requirement is received by the contracting officer." The program is an extension of the Department of Defense depot maintenance capability and has produced significant cost savings since it was initially awarded in 1951, according to the AFCMC employee. "During this time, the program has also proved to reduce the contracting lead time," he added. CFT contracts are designed to provide maintenance for U.S. Air Force aircraft, including engines and components, Mr. Cohen stressed. Projects under the program include work performed on all types of equipment operated by the DOD such as aircraft, engines, test stands, railroad engines, howitzers and various other components of DOD weapon systems. "CFT contracts are basic ordering agreements, against which individual delivery orders are issued to accomplish specific tasks," Mr. Cohen said. "Our contractors provide the overall company management and the planning needed to meet contractual WRIGHT-PATTERSO- N : cost-effecti- ve : U.S. Air Force Photo by Michael Thompson Stephen Zack, son of TSgt. Michael Zack of the 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron, shows perfect form off the diving board on a hot summer day. H52! G(uk5 DuD(D(m GDagpCflO Nearly two-ho- ur flight met with cheers from onlookers PALMDALE, Calif. (AFNS) The first B-- 2 lifted into the air at 7:37 MDT July 17 with cheers from onlookers and the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background. The Stealth bomber's first flight follows successful taxi tests July 10 and 13 and an aborted flight attempt on July 15 caused by low fuel pressure readings. The bomber is manufactured by Northrop V" Corp. After takeoff, the bomber climbed to 10,000 feet where functional checks of the basic subsystems were run. All tests were conducted with the land- ' joint-servic- , 9.9 at least requirements." The government then uses contract language to give direction to the specific needs of the contracts for such things as work facilities, special tools and logistics support, he said. He added that the contracts are versatile and responsive to the needs of the DOD and are adaptable to maintenance and modifications of Army, Navy and Marine Corps weapon systems and equipmentAt the present, the average CFT rate is $19 in the continental United States, and $24 per hour overseas. Even though basic contracts are written by the e Air Force, the contract language covers terminology, procedures and publications. "When a contract field team delivery order is awarded for the Army or Navy, the contract in essence becomes an Army or Navy contract," he continued. There are approximately 3,900 contract field team personnel working under government contract at an average 600 sites worldwide at any time, according to Mr. Cohen. Ready on a moment's notice, contract field teams are keeping DOD weapons systems up and running. WSaiwji. : . with the Flying the bomber were Bruce Hinds, Northrop 's chief test pilot, and CoL Richard Couch, director, B-- 2 Combined Test Force. B-2- ." j ! . after a detailed inspection of all aircraft systems has been completed. Production continues on 10 more s with a total of 132 aircraft eventually to be delivered to Strategic Air Command. The cost of the total program is $70.2 billion. On July 13, moving toward the milestone first down. flight of the B-- 2 Stealth bomber, Air Force and ing gear taxi Lests Slightly less than two hours after launching, the JNortnrop engineers conauciea nign-spee-a B-- 2 landed at Edwards AFB, Calif., and the Air of the aircraft. The bomber taxied at varying speeds up to Force announced the first flight a succcess. "We are gratified by the successful first flight and 130 mph. As Dart of the tests, the aircrew raised the nose look forward to the full flight test program and this of of the aircraft to extend the nose gear off the a our nation's aircraft eventually becoming part strategic deterrent force," Donald B. Rice, secretary ground. At the completion of the tests, the aircraft turned of the Air Force, said. B-- 2 onto the runway overrun, buckling the asphalt in the of the success proCiting his pleasure with the heat. The tires on the inboard landing gram so far, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney said, into the hot asphalt, but there was no to sank test see the to that gear program appears "It is good either the aircraft or the landing gear. to validate the judgments made previously by the damage Department of Defense and Congress to go forward B-2- 100-degr- ee NEWS BRIEFS Now reports in uso Aug 1 for RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS)-Rat- ers the chief master senior and sergeants begin using new enlisted performance reports Aug. I. The senior enlisted performance report, Air Force Form 911, replaces the airman performance report under the new enlisted evaluation system. The new performance report caps indorsements at the senior rater. Reports can have three evaluators: rater, rater's rater and one additional indorser. Limiting the evaluators returns control of the evaluation back to those who know the most about the performance of the ratee. The minimum indorser is now a maj or. The maximum indorser is the organization's designated senior rater, usually the wing commander or equivalent. If the senior rater is either the rater or rater's rater, the report closes out and goes no further. For more information, review Air Force Regulaenlisted performance reports, or contact tion the consolidated base personnel office. 39-6- 2, African ivory banned in U.S. WASHINGTON (AFNS) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a ban on the import of African elephant ivory. The ban went into effect June 9. Four programs available Department of Defense members traveling overin the seas or shipping property are advised to keep their RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS)-Peo- ple Air Force wishing to enhance their educational ex- old inventories, sales tickets and perience now have four programs available to them. customs documents. carrier-prepare- d - The Rand Research Fellow, the Olmstead Scholarship Program and the Air Force Research Associates Program are open to all Air Force officers, while the White House Fellowship Program is open to all U.S. citizens. More information and application procedures for these programs can be obtained from local consolidated base personnel offices. These documents will prove ownership of ivory products and show the goods were exported from the United States. Ivory products include pianos, organs and keyboards. Elephant ivory bought overseas can be seized upon entering the United States and violators may be fined $5,000. |