KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman 1st Class Michael Applegate, 961st Aircraft Maintenance Unit electrical environmental, changes a bypass valve on an E-3 Sentry, an airborne warning and control system aircraft, during routine maintenance Aug. 16 Kadena Air Base, Japan. The rotating radar dome has a range of more than 250 miles (375.5 kilometers) for low-flying targets and farther for aerospace vehicles flying at medium to high altitudes. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Sarah Thomas, 961st Aircraft Maintenance Unit hydraulics craftsman, refers to the training business area of refueling procedures during the refueling of an E-3 Sentry, an airborne warning and control system aircraft, Aug. 16 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The procedures in the TBA are followed step-by-step to ensure no mishaps occur, which may cause delays. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Sarah Thomas, 961st Aircraft Maintenance Unit hydraulics craftsman, maneuvers a fuel hose to an E-3 Sentry, an airborne warning and control system aircraft, during a refuel Aug. 16 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- A 961st Aircraft Maintenance Unit consolidated tool kit lays open for an accountability inspection after use in aircraft maintenance operations Aug. 16 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The operation the tool kit was used for may not continue until each individual tool is accounted for and returned to its proper place. “We take care of the tools and make sure they’re good-to-go for flight line use,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew Cunningham, 961st Aircraft Maintenance Unit consolidated tool kit custodian. “When the kits are returned, we make sure nothing is missing to ensure the mission can continue as scheduled. If even one tool is missing, operations stop and the aircraft is searched and can’t be released until it’s found.” (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman 1st Class James Black, 961st Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, trains Airman 1st Class Dennis Finley, 961st AMU electronic warfare, on refuel/defuel panel operation procedures during a routine refueling process Aug. 16 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. “No refuel is ever the same,” said Finley, while observing Black operating the intricate control panel. “We are always learning something new about the job every day,” said Black. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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Making sure AWACS are always mission ready

Published Aug. 18, 2011