HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- With modern technology come new and better ways to do tasks on the job. Maintainers have seen this firsthand with the implementation of iPads in their career fields. Due to the tablet's effectiveness, its use has really taken off.
The move to implement use of iPad tablets at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., was spearheaded by Corey Runge, previously an F-16 crew chief here for eight years. Runge is currently a member of an Air Force Reserve Command Technical Order Distribution Office team that is trying to implement the tablet's use Air Force wide.
"Not everyone here was ready for the change from paper," said Master Sgt. Nicholas D'Ambriosa, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron quality assurance inspector. "People were initially skeptical, but now it's all they want to use."
HARB began using iPads in the fall of 2012 with initially a handful of the tablets.
"After the initial test phase deemed them worthy of use, the maintainers never wanted to go back," said Master Sgt. John R Thomas, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron sortie support section supervisor.
For maintainers, the tablet is a big help. The days of carrying paper copies of technical orders are slowly fading away. One tablet can house almost 2,000 technical orders. This amount of information would otherwise take several pallets worth of paper.
The iPads have special eTools Lite software loaded that manages all the files on it and disables most other features.
Updating technical orders meant printing out new books in the old days, but now this is done by a simple download. The iPads are updated once a week to ensure that the technical orders are up-to-date.
Looking for specific things within the books is easy with a built-in search function. Users also have the ability to have multiple books open simultaneously.
"IPads are invaluable for home station use and deployments," said Thomas. "A technician can carry the whole library in one hand. This helps tremendously with mobility and cuts down time for trouble shooting since technicians don't have to leave the work area to check out other trouble shooting manuals."
Tablet use is proving to be successful. Previously, a short-lived campaign with ruggedized laptops was scrapped due to the unreliable nature of the computers and the cost, said D'Ambrosia.
Paper books would be ruined with the smallest amount of rain or oil spills. The iPads are equipped with hard, shock-proof cases which not only protect them from a fair amount of drops, but also allow many liquids to simply be wiped off.
Even with the necessary precautions, the tablets have been known to break due to physical strain and accidents. The percentage of damaged iPads here is very minimal. Even when replacing them is a necessity, the amount for a new one is negligible compared to the overall savings incurred since the switch from paper books, said D'Ambriosa
"Other areas have expressed interest in tablet usage to assist with tasks that require signing in," said Fadale Ellington, a 482nd Communications Squadron video telecommunication and personal wireless communications system specialist. "I can see areas such as the gym, where people sign in and out regularly benefiting from tablet use because of its portability and reliability."
With AFRC working on iPad integration into the workplace, tablet usage throughout the Air Force Reserve may be a reality in the near future. During its trial run, the 482nd Maintenance Squadron has proven the IPad's efficiency on the job.
"I think it's great, it puts a whole library's worth of information in everyone's hands," said D'Ambrosia. "This tablet holds several thousand dollars' worth of books, there really is no comparison."