Black Letter tanker

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Colby L. Hardin
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Getting a black letter Exceptional Release is hard enough to get once, but flying five missions with this status is unheard of and an achievement worth celebrating in the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

It is highly uncommon for the aging KC-135 Stratotanker to receive a "black letter," which means it flew a mission without a single discrepancy, but a tanker here has been on five consecutive flights without flaw.

Aircraft 337 has accumulated approximately 25,000 flying hours since it was first manufactured in 1960. An aircraft this old is expected to have at least a few minor imperfections.

"It's like owning a vehicle from 1960 and having everything work on it," said Master Sgt. Kevin Scheer, 22nd AMXS gold aircraft maintenance unit aircraft production superintendent. "Not too many 60's vehicles out there run factory specs and have everything working on them as advertised without a single discrepancy."

Inspections find an average 15 to 20 discrepancies on the Stratotanker, but not on this tanker, which has been on black letter status since April 12. Aircraft 337 is the first black letter aircraft from McConnell since 2004, and the green AMU wants to keep it that way.

"We'll go the extra mile and put in the extra effort to maintain that status." said Scheer.

Once the staff working on the aircraft found out that a black letter exceptional release was in reach, it wasn't hard to motivate them to get it and keep it in perfect condition.

"All I said [to them] was, this aircraft only has a few discrepancies, and I had confidence that we can get it to a black letter status," said Master Sgt. Willis Blevins, 22nd Maintenance Squadron Green AMU production superintendent. "The whole maintenance group got behind us, and we accomplished the black letter."

Black letter exceptional release is a big achievement to many maintainers. It becomes more than just a job, it has a deeper meaning to some.

"It's like winning a championship game," said Blevins. "This is the first time I've been personally involved with one, this is a milestone."