CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada -- With a mission fully planned, remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and ground control stations (GCS) must be in complete working order to ensure the aircrew has an operational RPA to get the mission done successfully and safely.
To accomplish this task, Airmen from more than 19 Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs) work together to manage the safety of the aircraft by ensuring its weapons are correctly built and loaded, the GCSs are operational, the data links are active, and the equipment needed to maintain the aircraft are operational to ensure remotely piloted aircraft operations can be conducted worldwide.
“Our Airmen are on the front-lines everyday contributing to the mission in a bigger way than they see,” said Chief Master Sgt. Stacy, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron chief enlisted manager. “They are all professionals. Everyone comes with a great attitude when it comes time for business which ultimately is enabling the global RPA enterprise.”
According to Stacey, another impressive aspect for the 432nd Maintenance Group is the Airmen being able to complete the mission and overcoming being undermanned and having low retention rates.
Once the missions have been scheduled, the production superintendents are responsible for overseeing all of the moving parts to getting the RPAs ready to fly.
AGE
The men and women of the 432nd Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment shop ensure the equipment needed to service the aircraft are in operational order, both at home and downrange.
"We get our guys the equipment downrange [that is] needed to carry out the mission," said Senior Master Sgt. Steven, 432nd MXS Flight Chief. "RPAs can't take off without ground support assistance, and that's just what we're doing here."
This equipment encompasses aircraft stands, mobile transfer containers, generators, self-generating nitrogen carts, bomb lifts, and more. Not only does the 432nd MXS AGE sustain the formal training unit at home station, but also multiple areas of responsibilities downrange.
Without AGE, the maintainers deployed in support of global contingency operations wouldn’t have the necessary tools to service the aircraft rendering it inoperable to fly. If the aircraft is unable to fly, the joint combatant command’s needs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance would not be met.
Weapons
The MQ-1 Predator is capable of carrying two AMG-114 Hellfire missiles, while the MQ-9 Reaper is capable of carrying four Hellfire missiles and two GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs. The Reaper can also carry varied configurations of eight missiles, four bombs, or even carrying external fuel tanks.
Before these weapons can be loaded onto an aircraft, the men and women from more than seven ammunition sections must check out the required munitions from the storage area. They must build the bombs, maintain accountability of every piece, and deliver the ordnance to the flight line for loading.
“Without ammo, Creech wouldn’t be able to do its part,” said Senior Master Sgt. Barry, 432nd MXS munitions flight chief. “My unit is made up of some very strong and motivated Airmen, we’re a team. We get the job done, so that other AFSCs can have what they need to do theirs.”
With the ammo delivered to the flight line, it is up to the weapons load crew members to affix the munitions onto the RPA while ensuring they’re ready in case the aircrew needs to use them. The munitions are loaded on the aircraft with a configuration best suited for the mission’s objective.
“We’re responsible for loading the aircraft with munitions, specifically Hellfire missiles, GBU-12s and GBU-38’s,” Staff Sgt. Christopher, 432nd AMSX weapons load crew team chief. “We work in crews of three following a checklist to ensure the weapons are loaded on time, correctly, and safely.”
Aircraft
With the aircraft loaded and ready to go, it must be inspected by the crew chief, avionics, and weapons load crew members. Everything is examined to include the structure of the aircraft, accuracy of the weapons load, and the condition of the aircraft radars.
If the structure isn’t sound, the aircraft structural maintenance shop will determine the type and severity of the damage, and whether or not it’s repairable. If a structural repair is needed, the aircraft will be taken off the line and replaced with another.
"If we didn't exist, there wouldn't be a means of organizational level or even field level repair," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel, 432nd MXS aircraft structural maintenance craftsman. "If an MQ-1 or MQ-9 had a structural flaw caused by wear and tear, moisture absorption or any way of structurally damaging the aircraft, it would eventually, dependent on the damage, become structurally unsound and not airworthy."
Like structural maintenance, avionics Airmen play their part in the bigger picture of RPA operations. These Airmen make certain all the electronics in the aircraft wired together to make everything work in harmony.
“As avionics specialists, we’re responsible for nearly all of the electronics, wiring, control, modules, communication equipment, navigation, flight controls and more,” said Senior Airman Derek, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics supervisor. “Before launch, we also load mode four codes, GPS codes, and encryption codes into the plane and check that certain systems are functional.”
Before flight, the crew chief conducts a thorough pre-flight inspection to verify the RPA is air worthy. These inspections include checking antennas, landing gear, brakes, wings, tail planes, engines, making sure openings are free of foreign objects, and ensuring the plane is not leaking any fluids.
“As a crew chief we direct maintenance, replace parts, troubleshoot malfunctions, train personnel, conduct inspections, and document maintenance forms,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew, 432nd AMXS crew chief. “Essentially we provide mission ready aircraft so the aircrew can enable the RPA mission.”
GCS
While the plane is being serviced and prepared on the ground, Airmen from the 432nd Aircraft Communication Maintenance Squadron, are at work behind the scenes inspecting the GCS’s and conducting pre-flight servicing, as well as ensuring the processers, screens, links, and networks are operational. In essence, the ACMS provides the link between aircrews in the GCS to the plane miles away.
“We maintain all the communications equipment such as the antennas, ground data terminals, relays, and links needed to fly an RPA," said Airman 1st Class Tyler, 432nd ACMS RPA satellite communications technician. "We also troubleshoot communication issues if needed."
The ACMS Airmen are unique, as they are members of the only aircraft communications maintenance squadron in the Air Force responsible for both maintaining GCSs as well as ensuring the entire data link is ready to support the aircraft.
Each and every maintainer has their own part to play in the success of the RPA enterprise and making it work. No matter their career field or what minute task lay ahead, for the importance of the mission, even tightening a screw serves a greater purpose.
"These Airmen are saving lives every single day and enabling others to save lives," said Chief Master Sgt. Robert, 432nd MXS maintenance superintendent. "The maintainer who thinks they're just fixing a maintenance stand is actually fixing the stand so that a crew chief can get the plane to fly, so the aircrew can train and gain experience flying, so they can keep someone on the ground safe downrange and be able to return home to their families."
(Editor's note: The last names of certain individuals in this story have been removed for security reasons.)