A maintenance squadron is a central component of the maintenance system. It is usually the largest squadron at any Israeli Air Force base, and is responsible for maintaining Tier B aircraft (garages) and performing central maintenance for some of the Tier A airborne systems (avionics, for example). Some of the technicians in this squadron have direct and close contact with aircraft (fire control technicians, for example),
While other technicians maintain the associated equipment (ground equipment technicians, for example). The maintenance squadron operates 24 hours a day, and when a “scramble” occurs – an emergency takeoff of aircraft due to operational activity – ground crew members are required to quickly get to the aircraft (even before the pilots) in order to prepare the aircraft for flight. Each maintenance squadron is divided into the following units:
Aircraft-Helicopters Branch – Responsible for the maintenance of “Level B” aircraft by performing periodic inspections in garages.
Avionics Branch – In some bases, the Air Defense, Fire Control, and Electronic Warfare branches were combined into one branch, and deals with the maintenance of avionics systems.
Fire Control (FC) – Responsible for maintaining the main avionics systems on fighter jets. The unit is mostly composed of technicians and engineers from the electronics and electrical sectors who maintain the airborne systems and the test equipment (test equipment) for maintenance, and make changes and adjustments to the aircraft systems to accommodate weapons (weapons).
Modern and to improve cockpit operations: overhead display system, helmet display system, VTR for reconnaissance and maintenance of radar systems.
NVR (Radio Communication Navigation) – Responsible for maintaining airborne radio communication systems, aircraft navigation systems, and maintaining ground communication systems.
Electronic Warfare (EW) – Responsible for maintaining dedicated airborne systems for electronic warfare. Ground Services (GS) – Responsible for maintaining aircraft maintenance support equipment and associated equipment
Ladders, lifts, fuel handling and storage (all types of fuel used in the force), trailers, braking systems, network cable, liquid oxygen, air conditioning and handling of specialized vehicles, handling of fire engines and runway sweepers, maintenance of pneumatic systems (air pressure systems), maintenance of compressors (stationary and mobile),
Maintenance of regulation systems (air and gases) – (production inspection and maintenance), maintenance of oxygen and nitrogen production systems, maintenance of hydraulic systems (mobile and stationary), maintenance of power plants and batteries, maintenance of rescue and lifting equipment (subject to the Armed Forces on the subject), and maintenance of experimental maintenance equipment.
Engine Department – Responsible for maintaining the engines of airplanes or helicopters. Maintains and disassembles the engines for inspections and repairs according to the manufacturers’ specifications.
Systems Department – Responsible for maintaining the steering and flight control systems; Also responsible for maintaining the avionics wiring and aircraft accessories such as: cockpit clocks, wheels, undercarriage, and more.
Aviation Supply Branch – Air Logistics – Responsible for managing the economy of spare parts designated for aircraft maintenance.
Maintenance Center Branch – Responsible for operating a maintenance squadron and coordinating its operations with the flight squadrons and with the control bodies at headquarters.
CT Department (formerly TAMAM Department – Information Systems Communications) – Responsible for managing the dedicated communications network and maintaining computer equipment.
Quality Assurance and Training Department – Responsible for professional training for technicians and quality system control.גף מבנה וייצור – אחראי לאחזקת מכלולי גוף המטוס או המסוק, מעקב התעייפות, בדיקות סדקים, נזילות, בקרת “אל־הרס” וייצור בתחום המתכת והעץ.
Firing Systems Branch – Armament – Responsible for maintaining the ejection system and the dedicated armament carriers that hang under the wings of the aircraft.
NISMT Branch (Guided Weapons and Ammunition) – Responsible for maintaining the guided weapons and other types of ammunition.
Squadron Command
The squadron commander is called the MTA, and is an officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel. At bases with many different types of aircraft squadrons, there is another lieutenant colonel, who serves as the deputy squadron commander, responsible for coordinating the various maintenance tasks, and is called the aircraft department head (RATM). In the past, at such bases, the MTA was at the rank of colonel.
At regular bases, the wing commanders are at the rank of major, with the aircraft wing commander (MAG) serving as the deputy to the chief of staff. At Uvda Base, due to the nature of the work there, the chief of staff and MAG are at the rank of major, and the other wing commanders are at the rank of captain.