Providing the right gear

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Gino Reyes
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE N,C, --  Everyday 4th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment Airmen ensure all gear aircrews need before flight is 100 percent serviceable.

These Airmen maintain, inspect and, when necessary, replace everything from aircrew helmets to parachutes. Before each flight an equipment technician inspects the helmet and mask before fitting aircrew in their G-suit. They then inspect the G-suit with a cast tester machine designed to inflate the suit to check for any leaks. Before final clearance for flight is given, an equipment technician performs a final inspection of the survival kit and parachute and provides a survival training briefing.

The Airmen attend a 13-week technical school followed by 12 months of on-the-job training before being certified for duty. There are approximately 40 aircrew flight equipment Airmen assigned here. They are evenly assigned to one of the four F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons where they maintain equipment for nearly 100 aircrew members.