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MEAM 602 Final Deliverable4
MEAM 602 Final Deliverable4
METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH
(MEAM 602)
GERSHON G. LABOS
MEAM 602
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Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
The 5th Fighter Wing (5FW), presently stationed in Basa Air Base, Pampanga, is
one of the major bases of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) tasked to conduct air
paramount importance that the 5FW air assets composed of Korean-made FA-50
fighter aircraft and Italy’s S-211 trainer/warrior aircraft be in tiptop condition and
operationally ready (OR) at all times for the Wing to perform its mandate of
performing fighter operations all over the archipelago. Thus, proper maintenance
airworthiness of the 5FW air assets. The 430th Maintenance and Supply Group
(430 MSG), being the lead agency in aircraft maintenance management of the
5FW, oversees each and every airplane’s upkeep. The Group sees to it that these
aerospace vehicles are flyable at all times without compromising safety. Its mission
exercises operational control over two (2) units, namely; the 431st Field and Depot
Squadron (434 AMS). The former is tasked to provide field and depot maintenance
of all aerospace vehicles and associated equipment assigned with the 5FW while
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the latter’s job is to provide organizational, field, and depot level maintenance of
avionics equipment and fire control system. Moreover, the 430 MSG has functional
supervision over flying units, to wit; the 105th Combat Crew Training Squadron (105
CCTS), which is in charge of maintaining the S-211 aircraft, and the 7th Tactical
Fighter Squadron (7 TFS) taking care of the upkeep of FA-50 aircraft. The
However, in the event that the aircraft discrepancy is beyond their capability to
correct, they may coordinate with 430 MSG to seek assistance from higher level
The S-211s are relatively old aircraft having been acquired in the late 90’s.
Hitherto, the maintenance personnel have not developed their capability to perform
depot level maintenance on JT-14C engines, the propelling force of the said
aircraft. Meanwhile, it was only recent that the Korean-made FA-50s were
acquired. It takes quite a while to train and develop the maintenance capability of
the personnel.
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units.
Hypothesis
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the 5FW air assets. And this can be surely realized by seeing to it that these aircraft
are maintained properly and ready to protect the territorial airspace of the Republic
of the Philippines. Keeping the command aware of the relevance of other factors
necessary for the upkeep of its assigned aircraft, it can readily react for any
eventuality that may arise in the future. Compared to other Air Force Wings, the
5FW has a very delicate task of providing active air defense against hostile
Air Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines both in neutralizing communist
The study includes interviews, data gathering, and confirmation of data from
both the maintenance and tactical units. Further, the research is confined to the
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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
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Chapter 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
Maintaining a fleet of operationally ready aircraft has always been the desire
Republic from external aggression. The acquisition of the FA-50 in 2011 onwards
somehow regains the glory of the 5FW since the mothballing of the F-5s in 2004.
It was in 1965 when the F-5 aircraft were procured from the US. Its acquisition
made the country second to Japan in terms of air power in Asia. It then marked the
transition of the PAF into the Jet Age which therefore saw the need for the Air
Force to send some of its pilots and maintenance personnel to attend schooling
the Mutual Defense Treaty with the US. With the pullout of the American military
bases in the early 90’s, the Filipinos are not assured that Uncle Sam will come to
their aid in times of war. Thus, it is imperative for the Philippines to have its air
Realizing the need to acquire more modern and sophisticated Jet aircraft,
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deliberation at the higher level of command is ongoing choosing from among the
Having our existing fighter aircraft operationally ready at all times plays a
book that our neighboring Asian countries who possess a fleet of the best air
When the then CG, PAF, LT GEN NICASIO P RODRIQUEZ, visited BAB in
the 90s, he emphasized the need for the acquisition of an ultra-modern jet fighters.
However, he intimated that it surely takes a long time to realize this dream due to
aggression.
In so doing, the 430 Msg management would gain achievement and ensure
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Synthesis
managing the requirements for each aircraft based on Return to Service actions
while the aircraft maintenance personnel of the 430 MSG, 431 FDMS, 434 AMS,
7 TFS, and 105 CCTS are capable to undertake maintenance repair of the aircraft
has a comprehensive inventory of tools and equipment plus there exists necessary
facilities for the conduct of the aircraft maintenance. Meanwhile, the 5FW
maintenance units possess the required tools and equipment to undertake the
aircraft repair and maintenance, however, there are lacking equipment for engine
keep parts in stock in their warehouse facility, and are a go-to source for parts and
services. On the other hand, the 5FW has incomplete inventory of aircraft parts
maintenance.
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Conceptual Framework
The 430th Maintenance and Supply Group was established with the task of
providing depot maintenance service for all 5FW air assets. It aims to ensure early
monitoring the job performed on the aerospace vehicles. To realize this, 430 MSG
the two (2) support units; the 431FDMS and the 434AMS, and the two (2) tactical
Moreover, there is a maintenance action officer detailed for the day whose
duty includes monitoring the status of all types of 5FW aircraft and aerospace
maintenance updates.
The Group Commander is ably assisted by his deputy and his Directors for
Operations and Administration. Under the directorate for administration are the
three (3) branches, namely; Personnel Management, Morale and Welfare, and
Support Management. The directorate for operations, on the other hand, exercises
control over the following five (5) branches; Maintenance Control; Plans,
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Programs, and Training; Materiel Control; Records, Reports, and Analyses; and
the Quality Control. Each branch has its own peculiar task to carry out to be able
to accomplish the 430MSG’s mission. The bulk of the job lies heavily on the
As regards the flying units like the 105CCTS and 7TFS, organizational
inspections are conducted to determine fitness of the aircraft for flight for the day
whereas post-flight inspection is resorted to after the last flight of the day to
determine its airworthiness for the next day. In the event they discovered some
the aircraft under operationally ready (OR) status. However, should aircraft
discrepancy noted be beyond their capability to correct, they will coordinate with
430MSG for assistance which may be provided either by the 431FDMS or the
components like ejection seats which needs to be replaced upon expiration of its
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the weapons system may be placed under Non-Mission Capable Status (NMCS).
rendered under Engine Not Operationally Ready due to Supply (ENORS) status.
of operating hours.
necessary to start the aircraft’s engine/s. Furthermore, AGE is also used to check
major aircraft components like landing gears, communication equipment, and the
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Conceptual Paradigm
INPUT
PROCESS
OUTPUT
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Definition of Terms
on the ejection seat of a fighter aircraft, used to propel the ejection seat
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day.
scope, that immediate support comes from the squadron level. It does flight
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14. Catapult – example of CAD – component of the ejection seat used in the
15. Ejection Seat – a major component of the Emergency Ground Rescue and
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Chapter 3
METHODOLOGY
Research Design
quantitative research approaches for the broad purposes of breadth and depth
of the study. The researcher, therefore, intends to make use of qualitative and
Descriptive-normative analysis was used to describe the findings of the study such
to the maintenance personnel and the 430 MSG management. Based on standard
analysis, the findings of the research covered the quantitative and qualitative
measures.
Research Locale
The 430th Maintenance and Supply Group is located at Basa Air Base,
Pampanga, six (6) kilometers away from the town proper of Floridablanca,
Pampanga. Basa Air Base houses the 5th Fighter Wing, the premier unit of the
Philippine Air Force. The Headquarters, 430MSG is located at the flight line area
where 431FDMS, 434AMS, 6TFS, 7TFS, and 105CCTS are similarly located.
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quota shall be allocated to the 430MSG management, the two (2) support units,
and the two (2) flying units. This method of sampling is used by the researcher in
Instrumentation
this study. The research comprised more of an interview work with the 430MSG
430MSG and other units were approached on data reflecting the overall
manuals/orders, radio and fax messages, black and white communications, and
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coordination with the 5FW was made for the authority to conduct the study in the
clearly understood and answered. The results were tallied upon receipt of the filled
selected personnel from other maintenance units were interviewed for an open-
ended survey. Similarly results of the interview were collated, analyzed, and
interpreted.
collected were appropriately checked and tallied after receipt of the accomplished
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data.
Frequency was used to determine the number of participants with the same
response to them.
Weighted Mean was used to determine the average of the questions of people
×= ∑ 𝒇𝒙/𝑵
Where:
∑ 𝑓𝑥 – Total weight
The Likert Scale was used to interpret the items in the questionnaire.
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