Maintenance critical inspection

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jacob Neptune installs safety wire on an F-15E Strike Eagle during an hourly post-phase inspection on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 7, 2012. The safety wire is installed to prevent bolts from loosening while the aircraft is in flight. Neptune, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron crew chief, hails from Midland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes/Released)

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Maintenance critical inspection

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jacob Neptune reviews a technical order prior to performing maintenance on an F-15E Strike Eagle on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 7, 2012. The aircraft is undergoing an hourly post-phase inspection where every panel of the jet will be opened/removed, inspected and repaired. Neptune, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron crew chief, hails from Midland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes/Released)

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Maintenance critical inspection

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Nathan Lewellen installs an Instrument Landing System antenna on an F-15E Strike Eagle during an hourly post-phase inspection on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 7, 2012. The ILS antenna is used to assist aircrew with landing. If the aircrew cannot see, the system will let them know if the aircraft is lined up properly for landing. Lewellen, 335th Aircraft Maintenance Unit avionics technician, hails from Oak Hill, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes/Released)

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Maintenance critical inspection

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Sean Gonzales inspects the inside of an F-15E Strike Eagle for debris during an hourly post-phase inspection on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 7, 2012. Debris must be removed from inside the aircraft to prevent it from getting into the engine and causing serious damage. Gonzales, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron crew chief, hails from La Palma, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes/Released)

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Maintenance critical inspection

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Dayon Simpson inspects the inside of an F-15E Strike Eagle wing for damage during an hourly post-phase inspection on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., May 7, 2012. Strike Eagles must undergo phase inspections after flying 400 and 1200 hours. The inspection will last anywhere from seven to ten days allowing maintainers to break down the jet and inspect every aspect of its functionality. Simpson, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron crew chief, hails from Cleveland. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gino Reyes/Released)

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Maintenance critical inspection

Published May 8, 2012
By Senior Airman Gino Reyes
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- One of the ways the Airmen from 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Phase Shop ensure the wing's F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft are ready to meet mission needs at all times is through phase inspections.

During a phase inspection the Strike Eagle is taken apart and all aspects of its functionality are completely inspected. Airmen examine each part, fixing or replacing broken pieces then retest them to ensure they work properly. A phase inspection normally takes seven to 10 days depending on the amount of maintenance needed.

Airmen perform phase inspections on the Strike Eagle after every 400 and 1,200 flight hours. In the past inspections were performed every 200 hours, but to better support combat operations Air Force leadership extended inspections out to every 400 hours. This allows the aircraft to conduct more sorties before having to go through the inspection.

Phase inspections ensure Strike Eagles continue to fly and are a critical part of its maintenance.