USS Enterprise (CVN 65)
The Shuttle Newsletter Edition
“We are Legend”
June 12, 2012 Issue
The Inflation Station: Tire Shop Sailors
Story and photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea – Maintenance is a daily or damage while occurrence for the Sailors and Marines aboard aircraft carrier moving the aircraft, USS Enterprise (CVN 65). The same can be said for those we can deal with working in the carrier’s “tire shop.” approximately 30 The tire shop aboard Enterprise is fully equipped to replace tires a week that or repair the tires of all aircraft that are currently embarked need replacing or for the ship’s 22nd and final deployment, including the F/Arepair,” said Aviation 18 Hornets and Super Hornets, C-2A Greyhounds, E-2C Structural Mechanic Hawkeyes, EA-6B Prowlers, and even the HH-60H and SH2nd Class Rebecca 60B Sea Hawk helicopters. Tate, leading petty “The aircraft on the ship go through constant wear and tear, officer of the “tire and participating in flight operations every day wears down shop.” the tread on their tires,” said Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate While many parts Raymond Appiah-Amponsah, the leading chief petty officer of and pieces may be the IM-2 division aboard Enterprise. “When we find a tire that kept on station, the is damaged or in bad shape, we bring it down to the shop, tear rubber used to make it down, build it back up with new parts and rubber and send it new tires isn’t kept back to the squadrons. in the “tire shop.” The tire shop has this process down to a science. First, The Sailors that run they inspect a tire reported by a squadron as worn or damaged. the “tire shop” work They remove all the parts and rubber from the tire and perform in conjunction with Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Fred Faust an inspection of each. After the inspection, they perform all Enterprise’s Supply performs maintenance in the “tire shop.” required maintenance, including lubing parts of the assembly department to ensure all rubber needed for new tires and and replacing old, worn, or broken parts. maintenance is received. “One of the last things we do is inflate the tire in our inflator While some people think the only place where aircraft cage, then let it sit to ensure there are no leaks,” said Aviation components can be dangerous are on the flight deck or engine Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Nicholas Chicarello. “After shop, the “tire shop” is not without its hazards. we’ve made our final checks, we turn the completed tire back in “If someone doesn’t pay attention while inflating the tire, it to Supply and wait for our next inspection.” can explode, and parts of the assembly or the rubber itself, can Nine Sailors make up the crew of Enterprise’s “tire shop,” become incredibly dangerous like shrapnel,” said Chicarello. including two Sailors striking into the Aviation Structural “It’s just like any other part of the ship, you have to be careful.” Mechanic rating. The shop is split into two components, a day The Sailors of the “tire shop” will continue to keep our and night shift, keeping it manned and capable of maintenance aircraft burning rubber on the flight deck as Enterprise and her at all hours of the day or night. squadrons continue to fly combat missions on deployment in “Depending on the flight and mission schedule for the week, the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
New Mexico, Colo. Fires Burn Out of Control By Kristen Wyatt, ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAPORTE, Colo. (AP) — The sun rose behind a wall of smoke from a large wildfire burning out of control in northern Colorado, while an unchecked blaze choked a small community in southern New Mexico as authorities in both regions battled fires Monday. Hundreds of people have evacuated their homes and dozens of buildings have been destroyed as the fires have spread
rapidly, authorities say. The Colorado fire is burning on nearly 60 square miles in a mountainous area about 15 miles west of Fort Collins. It has grown so fast and put out so much smoke that an evacuee shelter had to be moved. The blaze has damaged or destroyed at least 18 structures. In New Mexico, a wildfire near the mountain community of Ruidoso has
burned more than 40 square miles and damaged or destroyed 35 structures. Some evacuated residents were allowed to return Sunday but were warned to be ready to leave again. Gov. Susana Martinez announced Sunday evening she was ordering 100 National Guard troops mainly to assist with evacuations. They will support the 100 guard members deployed Saturday.
FIRES continued on page 3