18th Operations Support Squadron provides vital support

by By Staff Sgt. Amber E. N. Jacobs
18 Wing Public Affairs

12/13/2013 - KOMATSU AIR BASE, Japan -- Several F-15 Eagle aircraft sat at the end of a runway. Then, in what seemed like a blink of an eye, they zoomed across the landscape and took to the air soaring high into the gray morning sky here Dec. 11.

This scene is the bedrock of the U.S. Air Force's operations, but before the pilot can step into a jet and take off to support the mission whether it is at home station or down range, there is one critical stop that must be made: the aircrew flight equipment section.

Pilots cannot fly these aircraft without the help of aircrew flight equipment specialists who ensure the safety of the Airmen through the maintenance of helmets, oxygen masks and garments which counteract centrifugal forces, or "G-suits."

"We are extremely important to the mission," said Tech. Sgt. Nicole Mather, 18th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, "Because the pilots don't fly without our equipment, so it is important for the equipment to be fully operational and ready to go at all times."

The aircrew flight equipment specialists play a vital role in not only allowing pilots to easily fly, but also keeping them safe.

"The equipment is critical because it is what supports our life; we call it life support equipment for a reason," explained Maj. Jay Talbert, 67th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations. "It protects us if we have to bailout of the aircraft and it also allows us to function inside the aircraft."

Anytime the jets deploy or go on TDY at least two aircrew flight equipment specialists need to go for on the site fixes.

"Everyday something may come up," Mather said. They may need to get refitted to their G-suit, or need an ops check on their mask or their helmet. If something happens to their equipment they need to have aircrew flight equipment there to support them."

Aircrew flight equipment specialists must be precise in ensuring the function of all equipment, Mather said. Meticulous inspections are performed, such as checking the visors for cracks, ensuring the helmets have no dents or cracks and all of the interior parts are in place.

"So when we go to a pilot's peg we make sure all of their gear is serviceable and it has a good serviceable date," Mather explained. "We do a communications check on it to make sure the pilots are able to speak to one another; that they can breathe, and everything fits properly."

The harness and survival gear are also inspected and repaired on an as needed basis so if the pilot has to eject, the proper gear is in place and operational to aid in survival and rescue efforts, providing the pilots reassurance when they fly their missions.

"I know that I have good folks that have done their job to make sure that the equipment is doing its job so we can do ours," Talbert said.

But at the end of the day after all of the helmets have been turned in and have been post-flight inspected, for Mather it wasn't about long hours and detailed inspections, it was about the final product.

"We work very hard," Mather said. "But the most rewarding part about my job is just knowing that I'm putting out a good product and it does its job effectively."