Nondestructive Inspection Flight save lives

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Inspections are the Air Force's primary tool to ensure that its equipment and personnel are ready at a moment's notice.

What distinguishes the members of the 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron's Nondestructive Inspection Flight at Kadena Air Base is their seemingly innate ability to locate cracks in the structural components of an aircraft that could easily lead to catastrophe for the equipment or the crew onboard without harming the equipment.

"Kadena's NDI shop provides penetrate, magnetic particle, eddy current, ultrasonic and radiography inspections as well as the JOAP (Joint Oil Analysis Program)," said Airman 1st Class Jared Grove, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron nondestructive inspection technician. "What sets Kadena's NDI shop apart from other NDI shops in the Air Force is that we support every branch on Kadena."

With Kadena's many ongoing missions, Airman Grove said the shop performs roughly 500 inspections per month, including support for sister services.

"If an agency requires nondestructive inspections, we support them," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Thompson, another NDI technician in the shop. "During my (time) on Kadena, we have not only supported Air Force agencies, but the Marines have been known to drop off oil samples for analysis, and the Navy, when docked, has stopped by to get refresher training for Radiography."

Airman Grove said the inspections the shop performs save lives as well as equipment and money for the Air Force.

"It's a good feeling when you find a crack that could have potentially harmed an aircraft or the crew onboard," said Airman Grove. "I feel like doing what I do saves lives, and that's the most important thing."

To view the NDI photo slideshow, click here.