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Precision Measurement Equipment Lab aces inspection

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Seidl
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 97th Maintenance Directorate Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory here received an "outstanding" rating during their recertification process in September.

The PMEL received zero discrepancies on the Air Force Metrology and Calibration inspection, a highly technical assessment in which qualified inspectors observe the processes, actual work, and results of the lab and its personnel.

"The AFMETCAL is like the old Maintenance Standard Evaluation team (inspection). It's probably more intense than a UCI inspection, quite honestly," said Mr. John Veirs, maintenance division chief for the 97th Maintenance Directorate.

The PMEL is responsible for ensuring that every piece of measuring equipment on base is calibrated correctly and provides accurate results.

"We certify all the equipment used within the base for working on the planes -- we certify micrometers all the way to supporting the clinic calibrating the baby scales," said Greg Ramsey, PMEL chief.

"Everything has to have a traceable measurement. Everything has to be accurate to a set standard," he added.

The AFMETCAL inspection overlapped the Air Force Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspection by two days. The PMEL had a part in both inspections, which is an unusual situation according to Mr. Veirs.

"This is the first place I've ever been where we had back-to-back inspections in any one shop like that; usually they try to give you a break," Mr. Veirs explained.

The 97th Air Mobility Wing received an "excellent" rating for the LCAP inspection that makes the PMEL ... which was involved in both the AFMETCAL and the LCAP inspections.

"Our wing was the first to get an excellent (in Air Education and Training Command history) but then our division (maintenance) got an outstanding, so that in itself is quite an accomplishment," Mr. Veirs said. "For the AFMETCAL portion, PMEL had basically zero findings at all from the LCAP and then went in to get their certification (through the AFMETCAL), which I thought was quite admirable."