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Skin Doctors

By Staff Sgt. J. Justin Pearce, 403rd Wing / Published February 08, 2006

Like dermatologists for aircraft, troops from the 403rd fabrication shop diagnose and repair problems on the skin, or exterior, of the 403rd Wing's fleet of C-130s. The team routinely applies touch-up paint to aircraft to keep it protected.
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Like dermatologists for aircraft, troops from the 403rd fabrication shop diagnose and repair problems on the skin, or exterior, of the 403rd Wing's fleet of C-130s. The team routinely applies touch-up paint to aircraft to keep it protected.

Mr. Robert Clancy applies some touch up paint to a wing of a 403rd C-130J. Clancy, a master sergeant and air reserve technician, has been with the unit for more than18 years.
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Mr. Robert Clancy applies some touch up paint to a wing of a 403rd C-130J. Clancy, a master sergeant and air reserve technician, has been with the unit for more than18 years.

On a scorching hot afternoon, Mr. Ron Balius prepares for a touch-up paint job on a C-130J. An Air Reserve Technician, Master Sgt. Balius began his military career in the Army as a sheet metal and ejection-seat mechanic. His childhood love of aircraft brought him to the fab shop where he has worked ever since.
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On a scorching hot afternoon, Mr. Ron Balius prepares for a touch-up paint job on a C-130J. An Air Reserve Technician, Master Sgt. Balius began his military career in the Army as a sheet metal and ejection-seat mechanic. His childhood love of aircraft brought him to the fab shop where he has worked ever since.

The fabrication shop team, or "skin doctors" of aircraft, consists of 14 Reservists, half of them serving as air reserve technicians for the wing. (left to right) are Clancy, Chris Mayfield and Balius.
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The fabrication shop team, or "skin doctors" of aircraft, consists of 14 Reservists, half of them serving as air reserve technicians for the wing. (left to right) are Clancy, Chris Mayfield and Balius.

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Keesler AFB, Miss. -- Like dermatologists for aircraft, troops from the fabrication shop diagnose and repair problems on the skin, or exterior, of the wing’s fleet of C-130s.

As any doctor knows, the work sometimes gets messy. The team routinely applies touchup paint to aircraft to keep it protected. 

“It’s just like wearing a raincoat or sunscreen. Paint offers overall protection from the elements for the aircraft,” said Master Sgt. Ron Balius, sheetmetal specialist. “Once paint deteriorates, it’s like cancer. A spot of rust will grow into a much bigger problem.” 

These docs don’t have a chilly operating room to work in. They take care of their patients on the boiling flightline. Carrying all the tools they need in their EZ-Go ambulance, the team makes housecalls to each C-130. While diagnosing the problem areas, they circle the aircraft and confer to make a final decision as to which parts are in need of paint. 

Most of their routine checkups lead to feathering (sanding) metal parts of the aircraft, applying primer and touching up deteriorated spots. They never paint the whole aircraft – they just keep it looking sharp in between its head-to-toe extreme makeover, which happens every six years at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. 

One of the things Sergeant Balius and the team said they enjoy most about the job is the variety of work. 

“We’re like the fire department because it’s never one set thing everyday,” said Sergeant Balius. “When the phone rings, it could be anything.” 

Sometimes they’re called to replace major aircraft parts, like rivets, engine mounts or bathtub fittings, responsible for pivoting the ramps on C-130s. With a broken ramp, the Flying Jennies would have a tough time airdropping cargo. 

Other calls are sometimes entertaining, said Sergeant Balius. 

“One of the funniest calls we had was to replace a piece of Velcro on a C-130 – that has nothing to do with sheet metal,” said Sergeant Balius. 

Whatever the diagnosis, the “skin doctors” are always there to ensure correct treatment of their “patients.”