Photos: Providing the right gear

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Gino Reyes
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE N,C, --  Every day, 4th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment Airmen ensure all aircrew flight gear is 100 percent serviceable.

These Airmen maintain, inspect and, when necessary, replace everything from aircrew helmets to parachutes. Before each flight, an equipment technician inspects the helmet and mask before fitting aircrew in their G-suit. They then inspect the G-suit with a cast tester machine designed to inflate the suit to check for any leaks. Before final flight clearance is given, an equipment technician performs a final inspection of the survival kit and parachute and provides a survival training briefing.

The Airmen attend a 13-week technical school followed by 12 months of on-the-job training before being certified for duty. There are approximately 40 aircrew flight equipment Airmen assigned to one of the four F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons, where they maintain equipment for nearly 100 aircrew members.