by Airman 1st Class Rachel Kocin, 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- After retiring the F-117A Nighthawk, officials here are now preparing for the arrival of the F-22A Raptor.
With the new aircraft come many transition projects.
"One of the projects we have going on is phasing out tools used exclusively for the F-117," said Chief Master Sgt. James Harris, chief of the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. "Then phasing in, getting our support section spun up with the F-22 equipment and tools,"
To help with the transition, a self help project called the West Area Revitalization Team is currently performing numerous upgrades to the base's infrastructure, said Maj. Bryan Bobeck, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintenance operations officer. These upgrades include replacing floors, painting, building offices and completing roofing jobs.
"There is a lot of work that has to be done and it's kept our folks employed and has actually helped the 49th Civil Engineering Squadron with taking some of the burden of all the work orders," said Major Bobeck. "That has been a huge effort that has saved thousands of dollars and has helped the MXG improve not only the appearance of its facilities but its functionality as well."
Since there are no jets on Holloman, officials said the maintainers will fill their time training while they wait for the F-22 to arrive.
"There will be formal training, computer based training, and on the job training," said Chief Harris. "The biggest portion will be on the job training."
Initially an F-22A Cadre from Langley Air Force Base, Va., and other bases will conduct the training. The goal is for the cadre to train future F-22 trainers at Holloman AFB.
Holloman AFB, NM KHMN
Aero Comms (AM mode)
119.300 Holloman Tower
120.600 Approach Control/Radar Service
125.700 Ground Controlled Approach Radar
126.700 Clearance Delivery
126.900 Mission Communications "Cherokee"
127.050 Holloman Ground
128.100 Departure Control
132.650 Approach/Departure Control - Albuquerque ARTCC (Roswell RCAG)
229.300 Army Aviation Operations
255.900 Holloman Tower
257.600 Approach/Departure Control - Albuquerque ARTCC (Roswell RCAG)
269.225 Approach Control/Radar Service
271.300 Ground Controlled Approach Radar
273.500 ATIS
275.800 Holloman Ground
284.00 Departure Control
289.400 Clearance Delivery
305.500 Mission Communications "Cherokee"
320.100 Ground Controlled Approach Radar
339.300 Ground Controlled Approach Radar
346.500 Metro
351.100 Ground Controlled Approach Radar
372.200 Pilot to Dispatch (PTD)
372.900 Ground Controlled Approach Radar
381.300 ACC Command Post
392.000 Ground Controlled Approach Radar
396.000 Ground Controlled Approach Radar
398.200 Ground Controlled Approach Radar