Maintainers battle wear, tear

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Flying at 500 mph against five times the force of gravity brings extra significance to the term "wear and tear."

Keeping the 4th Fighter Wing's fleet of almost 100 F-15E Strike Eagles safe and strong, despite the intense wear and tear, is the job of 50-plus Airmen who work at the 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron's mainteance flight inspection section. 

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While regular flightline maintenance prepares the fleet for the day-to-day rigors of frequent flying, it takes a thorough phase inspection to ensure the 20-year-old jets are fit to fight over the long haul.

"We provide the warfighter with a reliable weapons system so they can deliver airpower on-target, on-time," said the section's commander, 1st Lt. Tyler Duncan. 

After every 400 hours of flight time, Strike Eagles here receive phase inspections, in-depth looks into the aircrafts' structural integrity and the operational capability of systems' components.

Once a Strike Eagle is towed into the phase dock, maintainers remove exterior panels to reveal the jet's internal systems components and a sea of wiring. Individual components are then removed so maintainers can get a good look at the jet's structure in a meticulous search for signs of emerging cracks, leaks or malfunctions.

"We take care of stuff before it becomes a problem," said Master Sgt. Donald Mitchell, 4th EMS assistant maintenance flight chief.

Repairs are made as needed. When complete, the jet is reassembled and a series of operational checks are accomplished to ensure its systems perform properly.

Phase-dock maintainers work around the clock so the jet can return to flying operations on deadline. Approximately half of the wing's Strike Eagles receive a phase inspection every year.

Flight inspection Airmen admit they couldn't do it alone.

"It incorporates maintainers from the whole flightline," Sergeant Mitchell said.

Before an inspection begins, EMS maintainers meet with their counterparts from the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to discuss the aircraft's current status and how the two squadrons can most effectively coordinate to accomplish the inspection. Additionally, specialists from various maintenance units will chip in their expertise throughout the inspection to restore the jet to its top operational capability.

"It's a much bigger picture than what you just see here in the phase docks," Sergeant Mitchell said.

That bigger picture includes an understanding of how the aircraft maintenance mission ties into national defense.

"First off, we need to make sure these jets are safe," Sergeant Mitchell said. "Once we're done, we know we can send them into any deployed location, and they can put bombs on target."