Accelerating Change: HIANG Airmen Redesign Aircraft Maintenance Stands for F-22

Posted on Jan 21, 2025 in 2020's, History
A team comprised of U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, and contract personnel pose in front of their custom-designed F-22 Raptor maintenance stands during the debut event Sept. 26, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The specialized maintenance stands are the culmination of nearly five years of collaboration between Total Force Airmen and the National Guard Bureau, providing a safer and more efficient way to access the hard-to-reach areas of one of the world’s most advanced stealth aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy)
A team comprised of U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, and contract personnel pose in front of their custom-designed F-22 Raptor maintenance stands during the debut event Sept. 26, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The specialized maintenance stands are the culmination of nearly five years of collaboration between Total Force Airmen and the National Guard Bureau, providing a safer and more efficient way to access the hard-to-reach areas of one of the world’s most advanced stealth aircraft. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy)

HONOLULU, Hawaii – A small team of maintenance Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard have revolutionized F-22 Raptor maintenance by developing custom-designed stands, which debuted this past September at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The project, the result of nearly five years of collaboration with the National Guard Bureau, delivers a safer and more efficient solution for accessing the aircraft’s hard-to-reach areas on one of the world’s most capable stealth aircraft.

The effort began in 2019 when Master Sgt. Scott Kamali’i, 154th Maintenance Squadron low observable aircraft structural maintenance supervisor, and his team identified a critical need to replace outdated and problematic equipment for routine aircraft maintenance. With safety and functionality as top priorities, the team created a design that met the unique demands of the F-22’s maintenance requirements.

“Our Airmen needed something more reliable and user-friendly than ladders and makeshift platforms,” Kamali’i said. “We saw an opportunity to solve a longstanding issue and improve working conditions for maintainers.”

Progress on the project faced setbacks in 2020 when a key NGB procurement official left the program. Despite this challenge, the initiative gained new momentum when fellow LOA/ASM specialist, Master Sgt. Preston Yockeman discovered a potential solution during his attendance at a tool convention. Armed with new insights, Yockeman collaborated with Kamali’i to refine their proposal and push the project forward.

Read the rest of the article

The State of Hawaii, Department of Defense (HIDOD)’ Retiree News does not endorse any of the external hyperlinks listed or posted on this site. This includes linked websites, information, products, or services contained therein. We are a government run website for which transparency and accountability are paramount. HIDOD cannot have the appearance of endorsement and are bound by the HIDOD Social Media Policy concerning political posts being respectful, honest, and accurate. Operational Security will additionally be adhered to. Retiree News does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at linked sites. Some of the sites linked to may limit the number of stories you can access without a paid subscription. All links were provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the HIDOD’s version of Retiree News.