U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Burnette, 79th Fighter Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, inspects the exterior of a helmet at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 2, 2012. Aircrew flight equipment personnel are responsible for ensuring the safety of the fighter pilots and integrity of their equipment.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Burnette, 79th Fighter Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, prepares an anti gravity flight suit at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., June 29, 2012. Aircrew flight equipment personnel are responsible for ensuring the safety of the fighter pilots and integrity of their equipment.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman Jesse Seeber, 79th Fighter Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman, removes soap scum from a helmet at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 2, 2012. Aircrew flight equipment personnel are responsible for ensuring the safety of the fighter pilots and integrity of their equipment.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airman Jesse Seeber, 79th Fighter Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman, conducts a leakage test on an anti-gravity flight suit at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., July 2, 2012. Aircrew flight equipment personnel are responsible for ensuring the safety of the fighter pilots and integrity of their equipment.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 79th Fighter Squadron's aircrew flight equipment work at the 79th Fighter Squadron Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., June 29, 2012. Aircrew flight equipment personnel are responsible for ensuring the safety of the fighter pilots and integrity of their equipment.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
by Airman Nicole Sikorski
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
7/3/2012 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Soaring high, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is recognized as one of the dominant weapons of airpower used by the U.S. Air Force in air-to-surface attack. Its superior technology allows it to be a leading tool in enemy air defense suppression.
Pilots could not fly these aircraft without the help of aircrew flight equipment specialists who ensure the safety of pilots through the maintenance of helmets, oxygen masks and garments which counteract centrifugal forces (or "G-suits").
"A pilot's life can literally depend on how well his or her flight equipment functions, and aircrew flight equipment personnel's responsibility is to ensure it works right every time. With that kind of responsibility, what they do is very important," said Chief Master Sgt. Darrel Ford, 20th Operations Group superintendent.
Aircrew flight equipment specialists must be precise in ensuring the function of all equipment.
"The aircrew flight equipment is important because it keeps the pilot connected to the jet," said Capt. Luke Bledsoe, 79th Fighter Squadron pilot. "It allows us to use the jet's capabilities to 'pull G's to fight our adversaries."
The aircrew flight equipment specialists play a vital role in not only allowing pilots to easily fly, but also keeping them safe.
"We take care of everything that the pilot wears (during a flight)," said Senior Airman Daniel Burnette, 79th Fighter Squadron "Tigers" aircrew flight equipment specialist.
"If a pilot goes down, it feels good to know that I may have saved that person's life with the gear that I've inspected for them. Our motto is to be the last ones to let them down," said Burnette. The "let down" Burnette referred to is that of a perfect parachute descent.
The aircrew flight equipment personnel spoke of the direct effect their duties have on the 20th Fighter Wing mission and the success of the pilots in their care.
"The specialized work of the men and women in the aircrew flight equipment community is vitally important," Ford said. "Without their dedicated efforts in ensuring safe and reliable flight equipment, pilots would not be able to safely execute Shaw's mission in providing combat airpower in support of Air Force needs."
