In World War II, it took an average of more than 9,000 2,000-pound bombs to destroy one target. Fast forward to Operation Enduring Freedom where a single B-2 aircraft was capable of destroying that same target with only one 2,000-pound bomb.
Precision engagement is one of the Air Force’s six distinctive capabilities, and striving for precision in all facets of the mission is core to our success as an Air Force. Taking precision to another level, the test measurement diagnostic equipment technician working in the Precision Measured Equipment Laboratory at Ramstein expands our knowledge of science and applies those rules to ensure the test equipment and calibrated devices we use throughout the Air Force is accurate to levels that are almost unbelievable.
For example, in the PMEL, Airmen can measure current as low as one PicoAmp. That is less than one thousandth of the current to power a hearing aid. On the other end of the spectrum, they can calibrate voltages as high as 40,000 volts, nearly double the voltage that powers Europe’s high-speed ICE trains.
PMEL’s capability to work across such a broad spectrum of electrical ranges is only the tip of the iceberg. They can measure the flatness of a surface to within five microinches. To put that in perspective, if two and a half Empire State buildings equaled one inch, then the width of a dime would be one microinch! When it comes to weight, these Airmen can measure up to 100,000 pounds of force or, conversely, if you took one gram and broke it into 30 million pieces, the Airmen in the PMEL could tell you if one piece was missing. Additionally, the lab’s GPS is continuously updated by orbiting satellites allowing Airmen to measure frequency down to one billionth of a second.
Equally impressive, Airmen in the lab can create a triple point of water. This is the condition where water exists as a solid, liquid and gas all at the same time. As this phenomenon is only possible by combining a specific temperature with a specific pressure, technicians can then use this as a reference for all temperature measurements. Bottom line, if it is a characteristic that can be measured, the Airmen in the PMEL can measure and calibrate the corresponding test equipment to a degree that boggles the mind.
The 86th Maintenance Squadron here is home to the Air Force’s largest all military TMDE flight. This flight serves more than 425 customers across U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Central Command and leverages all these capabilities in many ways. They are the only military PMEL authorized to calibrate infrared target simulators that ensure sidewinder missiles hit their target and nothing else. They also calibrate various Tactical Air Navigation test sets that simulate ground stations and other aircraft. If calibrated incorrectly, this could lead to our aircraft being sent miles off course or unable to tell the distance to other aircraft in a crowded battle space. Additionally, the precision with which they calibrate the various scales that weigh vehicles, aircraft and pallets ensure the critical center of gravity is maintained in each aircraft to safely deliver tons of cargo around the world. TMDE’s customers are not limited only to flightline operations; they also calibrate medical equipment for our medical teams ensuring our Airmen receive the best care medical science can offer.
When the smallest measurements mean the difference in mission accomplishment and mission failure, the 62 proud members of Ramstein’s TMDE flight are there to apply the scientific knowledge that puts the precision in precision engagement.
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In World War II, it took an average of more than 9,000 2,000-pound bombs to destroy one target. Fast forward to Operation Enduring Freedom where a single B-2 aircraft was capable of destroying that same target with only one 2,000-pound bomb.
Precision engagement is one of the Air Force’s six distinctive capabilities, and striving for precision in all facets of the mission is core to our success as an Air Force. Taking precision to another level, the test measurement diagnostic equipment technician working in the Precision Measured Equipment Laboratory at Ramstein expands our knowledge of science and applies those rules to ensure the test equipment and calibrated devices we use throughout the Air Force is accurate to levels that are almost unbelievable.
For example, in the PMEL, Airmen can measure current as low as one PicoAmp. That is less than one thousandth of the current to power a hearing aid. On the other end of the spectrum, they can calibrate voltages as high as 40,000 volts, nearly double the voltage that powers Europe’s high-speed ICE trains.
PMEL’s capability to work across such a broad spectrum of electrical ranges is only the tip of the iceberg. They can measure the flatness of a surface to within five microinches. To put that in perspective, if two and a half Empire State buildings equaled one inch, then the width of a dime would be one microinch! When it comes to weight, these Airmen can measure up to 100,000 pounds of force or, conversely, if you took one gram and broke it into 30 million pieces, the Airmen in the PMEL could tell you if one piece was missing. Additionally, the lab’s GPS is continuously updated by orbiting satellites allowing Airmen to measure frequency down to one billionth of a second.
Equally impressive, Airmen in the lab can create a triple point of water. This is the condition where water exists as a solid, liquid and gas all at the same time. As this phenomenon is only possible by combining a specific temperature with a specific pressure, technicians can then use this as a reference for all temperature measurements. Bottom line, if it is a characteristic that can be measured, the Airmen in the PMEL can measure and calibrate the corresponding test equipment to a degree that boggles the mind.
The 86th Maintenance Squadron here is home to the Air Force’s largest all military TMDE flight. This flight serves more than 425 customers across U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Central Command and leverages all these capabilities in many ways. They are the only military PMEL authorized to calibrate infrared target simulators that ensure sidewinder missiles hit their target and nothing else. They also calibrate various Tactical Air Navigation test sets that simulate ground stations and other aircraft. If calibrated incorrectly, this could lead to our aircraft being sent miles off course or unable to tell the distance to other aircraft in a crowded battle space. Additionally, the precision with which they calibrate the various scales that weigh vehicles, aircraft and pallets ensure the critical center of gravity is maintained in each aircraft to safely deliver tons of cargo around the world. TMDE’s customers are not limited only to flightline operations; they also calibrate medical equipment for our medical teams ensuring our Airmen receive the best care medical science can offer.
When the smallest measurements mean the difference in mission accomplishment and mission failure, the 62 proud members of Ramstein’s TMDE flight are there to apply the scientific knowledge that puts the precision in precision engagement.