Avionics technicians help keep 'em flying

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Yash Rojas
  • 354th Fighter WIng Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The 354th Maintenance Squadron Avionics Flight services and maintains aircraft equipment to simulate real-world threats for every Red Flag-Alaska event at Eielson Air Force Base.

The 12-member flight provides hands-on service and repair so Eielson's Aggressors can prepare hundreds of Air Force Pilots to fly, fight, and win. Their primary duties are to ensure F-16 Fighting Falcon avionics equipment, ranging from radars to radios, meets or exceeds Air Force standards through regular testing, maintenance, and repair.

Tech. Sgt. Warren Sutherland, avionics flight chief, said the avionics technicians work on nearly 35 different components regularly in either the avionics testing station or in the electronic warfare shop.

Airmen who work in the EW section primarily provide maintenance on the AN/ALQ 188 Electronic Countermeasures Pod used to simulate real-world threats. These pods allow pilots to acknowledge and respond accordingly to combat situations in large training exercises.

Although sophisticated technology and weaponry can help guarantee air supremacy, Airmen are the backbone to keeping aircraft in the fight. The maintainers often receive praise from guests who visit Eielson AFB.

"We got coined by the Kunsan deployed commander after working 12-hour shifts over a weekend during Red Flag," Sergeant Sutherland said.

Service is important. However, without proper on-the-job training and experienced NCOs, avionics would be less efficient and productive.

There are two different avionics flights at Eielson. In addition to the avionics back-shop, there is another flight at the 18th Aggressors Squadron. Working together, the AGRS technicians troubleshoot aircraft issues down to the component where the problem is, then send that part to the MXS avionics back-shop for further repair or troubleshooting. This coordination in a two-level operation ensures Airmen are not spending extra time on repairs, said Sergeant Sutherland.

"Serviceability is always important," Sergeant Sutherland said. "If we can't fix it, the part goes to depot. There's no back ordering, no higher level troubleshooting that we are authorized to do. We do what we can to make sure the part is serviceable and an aircraft isn't sitting on the ground waiting for a part."

Depot is the higher level authority according to Sergeant Sutherland; they have the authorization to disassemble and repair anything on the aircraft.

Although they can't always repair everything, Airmen in the avionics back-shop strive to keep Eielson mission ready.

In the last fiscal year, the Eielson's maintainers serviced 110 components and saved more than $1.5 million.

Although Senior Airman Levi Pratt, 354th MXS Avionics Flight electronic warfare team leader, finds the job challenging, he remains passionate about different aspects of his job. He said the components are complex and there is always something new to learn. For instance, he recently studied up on radio frequency energy, produced by some components typically used on several aircraft.

Everyday, Airmen go to work and put planes in the air. At Eielson AFB, the maintenance side of the house provides services to equipment that enhance training exercises with the use of sophisticated equipment, ensuring that Airmen are mission ready at all times.