Alaska Air National Guard Cuts Ribbon on Helicopter Engine Test Stand

The effort continued when a new supervisor, SMSgt. Troy Freeman, coordinated efforts to acquire a refurbished US Army unit and secured National Guard Bureau funding for that purchase.

“After fourteen years of persistent efforts, the Alaska Air National Guard has successfully acquired a T700 Flexible Diagnostic System test stand funded by the National Guard Bureau,” Cummings said during remarks before the ribbon cutting. “The T700 test stand is a significant milestone, being the only one in the Air National Guard and second in the entire Air Force.”

Cutting Costs, Reducing Downtime

The T700 Flexible Diagnostic System (FEDS) comprises a dedicated building with a custom-built ventilation system, bringing in fresh air to feed the engine’s intake and drawing out exhaust from the turbine. The brain of the system is housed in a sound-resistant booth where a propulsion specialist can control the engine load with a throttle while gathering crucial diagnostic information.

“A key feature of the FEDS test stand is its ability to verify the flight readiness of turboshaft engines removed from aircraft for maintenance, ensuring they are safe and ready for reinstallation,” Cummings says. “By efficiently testing engines, the FEDS test stand helps reduce maintenance turnaround times, minimizing aircraft downtime and improving operational readiness.”

DeVries says propulsion flight specialists previously had to remove an engine and carry out repair procedures they thought would fix it, but they wouldn’t know if they succeeded until they reinstalled the unit.

“Anytime we had a repair that was going to take a substantial time or we were just unable to diagnose on the aircraft, we would remove it to the back shop,” DeVries says. “We took our best stab at what was wrong, rebuilt it, put it together, and then we wouldn’t know until we put it on the helicopter if we had fixed the problem. We had a high percentage of being able to fix the problem the first time, but maybe we had a leak we weren’t able to fix.”

DeVries says now the Propulsion Flight team can perform break-in runs on the test stand, saving further time on the aircraft and improving safety because, without the test stand, the helicopter would have to conduct a test flight with an unproven engine.

Beyond enhancing mission readiness, Cummings says the test stand will eventually pay for itself.

“The system is cost effective, helping to reduce maintenance costs by streamlining the testing process and identifying issues early, preventing costly repairs down the line,” he says. “This significant acquisition marks a new era of enhanced engine maintenance and operational efficiency for the Alaska Air National Guard.”

Cummings outlined how the system will save time for Pave Hawk pilots, who will spend less time testing engines in flight.

“We get a better product in less time with less operations involvement,” Cummings says. “We can simulate flight parameters in this facility that eliminates the need for it to be on the aircraft with the crew.”

Cummings says T700 FEDS fielding is an example of innovative Alaska Air National Guard thinking that makes the most of limited resources.

“It is a testament to the Guard culture of efficiency and always looking for a better way to do something—a way to maximize the use of the reduced manpower we have at a lower cost to accommodate our lower resourcing,” he says. “It’s an exciting chapter in the innovation, resilience, dedication and persistence of the 176th Wing culture to get things done in the constant pursuit of excellence.”