Quality assurance teams keep Red Flag flightline safe

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Samantha Crane
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) --  (Editors Note: This is part of a series written on the 389th Fighter Squadron's participation in Red Flag 09-3 at Nellis Air Force Base).

With nearly two weeks remaining and more than 90 aircraft and hundreds of maintainers participating in Red Flag 09-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., teams of quality assurance experts remain focused on keeping maintenance aircraft participating in this exercise safe and "by the book."

With hundreds of maintenance people keeping these jets flying, it's critical for these maintenance people to follow their step-by-step checklist procedures to the letter. For quality assurance teams, keeping the flightline safe remains their primary goal during this advanced combat training exercise.

"We identify trends in the maintenance field and ensure people work safely and complete their tasks correctly," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Roberts, who came to Red Flag from the 366th Maintenance Operations Squadron at Mountain Home. "It's our goal to fix trends through training."

It's the job of each of these two-person quality assurance (QA for short) teams to oversee the entire Red Flag flightline.

"We are the focal point to get information to the maintenance commander and chief," said Tech. Sgt. Nathaniel Flugel from the 366th Maintenance Group. "We can inspect maintenance actions on aircraft in Red Flag for technical data violations, direct safety violations and unfavorable condition reports."

Because QA members begin their careers on the flightline or in flightline support departments, they have the in-depth experience to identify and correct potential problems during aircraft maintenance operations. They are familiar with what maintainers deal with on a day-to-day basis, which helps them teach Airmen how to fix the maintenance issues they find.

"We aren't the bad guys," said Sergeant Roberts. "We're here as a training tool. We can answer questions and clarify instructions."

During normal operations, QA serves as the primary technical advisory agency in the maintenance organization. They also inspect all aspects of flightline aircraft maintenance and help with maintenance supervision at all levels.

"We want to put safe, functional jets in the air so pilots return safely," said Sergeant Roberts.