Dyess continues unprecedented B-1 sortie generation

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles V. Rivezzo
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  More than a year-and-a-half ago, the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, set out to achieve a goal, to have maintainers produce more B-1 sorties than operators could fly.

What was once a pipe dream to many Dyess leaders has now become reality, as the 7th BW has seen an unprecedented improvement in B-1 sortie generation.

Dyess has seen improved mission capable rates, fleet health and attrition, through three generations of the Maintenance Operations Strategy Formulation Team, developed in September 2010.

"No matter how you slice it, it's impressive," said Col. Gerald Goodfellow, 7th Bomb Wing vice commander. "We're finally where we want to be. Maintenance is now producing more sorties than our operators can fly. This is a remarkable accomplishment."

As the hub of B-1 aviation with its combat, training and operational test squadrons, Dyess leadership recognized the need for change as the fleet continued to experience challenges in meeting Air Combat Command's mission capable rate.

Only 65 percent of contracted sorties were flown, leaving aircrew with less than the training required to be combat mission ready, according to Goodfellow.

"The vast majority of time our aircrews flew, one of two things happened. They either weren't flying, or they were taking off late," Goodfellow said. "When that happens, even when we did fly the majority of the sorties were ineffective for training. Because if you're taking off six hours late, everything you planned to do doesn't get done."

Major experiments during the first and second generation strategy teams included completely restructuring the B-1 flying schedule, breaking down barriers of communication between the maintenance and operation groups, as well as vast improvements in command and control, whereby leadership placed the decision making back at the "point of execution."

In addition to improving communication and restructuring the flying schedule, Dyess began conducting engine running crew changes, which became a major factor in the success the wing was experiencing.

Under this new construct, not only did aircrew gain increased time for training sorties, but maintenance reduced the need to reprioritize its objectives to meet later sortie requirements, which increased its focused touch-time by more than 20 percent.

In the last three months, Dyess has been on pace or surpassed milestones that haven't been achieved in years.

The mission capable rate has doubled, reaching approximately 65 percent; the highest in the last five years, reducing the attrition rate nearly six percent.

Furthermore, the 28th Bomb Squadron graduated 100 percent of their students on time, the first time in three-and-one-half years and the 9th Bomb Squadron was 100 percent combat mission ready prior to their departure to Southwest Asia, making it the largest B-1 deployment in 7th BW history.

Last month, the team reconvened to assess where they were and adapt for the future, incorporating incoming Dyess leadership to ensure continuity and continued success.

"We're now in the third generation," Goodfellow said. "When we got our team together, we saw an opportunity to make sure what we're doing doesn't get lost when leadership leaves. We reached out to future Dyess leaders who would be taking the place of many key members of our group to ensure continuity and furthering the advancement of our wing."

After a storied history of dominance and a year that has seen revolutionary changes and accomplishments, the future has never been brighter for the 7th BW and its age-defying bomber.

Projections for the next six months include saving nearly 7,500 maintenance man hours, which will be reallocated to improving fleet health as well as surpassing Air Combat Command's average mission capable rate of 68 percent, which is on track to be achieved next month.

"The combined efforts of the 7th Bomb Wing have allowed a common understanding of the constraints facing the wing in meeting the flying mission," said Maj. Shawnn Martin, 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron commander. "By properly balancing resources against requirements, Dyess will continue staying ahead of requirements while simultaneously improving the fleet health of the B-1 aircraft."