Aircrew flight equipment preserves lives

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Zachary Blankenship and Staff Sgt. Shawn Hubbard, 366th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technicians, inspect the contents of kits that are placed under the seats of aircraft Feb. 27, 2012, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The kits contain an inflatable raft to help the aircrew survive if they have to unexpectedly evacuate the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Hayward/Released)

Aircrew flight equipment preserves lives

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Albert Anderson, 366th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment apprentice, checks a pilot’s helmet Feb. 27, 2012, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The equipment technicians perform pre- flight, post-flight and 30 day safety checks of the helmets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Hayward/Released)

Aircrew flight equipment preserves lives

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joshua Blankenship, 366th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician, sands a mortar tube that is placed in the kit for the aircrew parachutes Feb. 29, 2012, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The mortar tube is filled with explosive powder that pushes the parachute out of the pack when it is released. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Hayward/Released)

Aircrew flight equipment preserves lives

Published March 1, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Shane M. Phipps
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- This is part two of a three part series on jobs critical to flight operations.

The Air Force is comprised of different careers with different objectives, but they all, contribute to the mission.

Some career fields, such as aircrew flight equipment, maintain the daunting responsibility of supporting the lives of aircrew personnel, directly affecting the war effort.

"Our job is extremely important because the equipment we work with is the last line of defense for aircrew," said Staff Sgt. Shawn Hubbard, aircrew flight equipment craftsman with the 366th Operations Support Squadron. "If the mechanics don't do their job the jets won't get off the ground, but we put the tools in place to make sure every crew gets home safely."

The aircrew flight equipment team is in charge of maintaining, inspecting and repairing all flight equipment, from parachutes to anti-G suites.

"We ensure all aircrew have appropriate gear to fly with," said Senior Airman Rick Stone, 391st Fighter Squadron aircrew flight equipment technician. "We also make sure anything they fly with on a day-to-day operation is safe."

At times, the amount of work these Airmen put in to ensure the safety of flight crews goes overlooked.

"People don't often see how much goes into making sure aircrew is safe," Stone said. "Our job is important to the mission because we are the last line of defense if all else fails."

Job satisfaction comes with the territory for an aircrew flight equipment technician.

"There's a lot of satisfaction that comes out of this job," Stone said. "At the end of the day we don't necessarily get a handshake for everything we do, but we know when we're doing our job, people are a lot safer."

Hubbard agrees, and has personally witnessed his hard work pay off.

"When I first came to Mountain Home, I heard there had been a 'punch out' on a routine training mission at my old base in Korea, and that was the first time one of my parachutes was used," Hubbard said. "It's a good feeling to know the stuff you do saves lives."