Red Flag-Alaska: Crew chiefs keep aircraft in flight

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Before and well after a flight, there are Airmen who take on the tremendous responsibilities of maintaining the aircraft, observing its safety, and providing pre- and post-flight maintenance. These Airmen are the crew chiefs.

During Red Flag-Alaska 09-3, there are more than 100 crew chiefs working to keep aircraft ready to fly and fight, and that's just from the 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C.

They refuel aircraft, change tires and brakes, service engine oil and hydraulic fluid and execute numerous inspections to make sure each of their aircraft is safe and reliable. The crew chiefs check before and after each flight, each inspection taking about one and a half hours.

"Planning is the biggest part of making everything run smoothly," said Staff Sgt. Nate Barnes, 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "Although the flying window is larger than a normal day, the hardest part about being away from home is the logistics aspect."

Crew chiefs have to make sure they bring as much of the bench stock as they can, like the nuts and bolts which are the most common things to break due to wear. Anything else they might need they will have to borrow. "Red Flag-Alaska gets us out of our comfort zone," said Sergeant Barnes. "It makes us better at working together because we have to learn to ask the right people where things are."

Throughout RF-A, crew chiefs work alongside each other to accomplish the mission. But accomplishing the mission isn't the only thing these crew chiefs have in common.

"There's a lot of camaraderie," said Senior Airman Chris Mitchell, 169th AMXS crew chief. "Unlike at home, when we're here we work together during the day and then we go home together at night."

Red Flag-Alaska 09-3 concluded Aug. 7, with U.S. aircraft and aircrews from Alaska, Korea, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, South Carolina, and Florida. Aircraft involved include F-16s, F-22s, B-1s and KC-135s.