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Inside look into 20th CMS (Part 1): Accessories ensures the safety of F-16s

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Jeffers
  • 20th Fighter Wing
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  F-16 Fighting Falcons flown by U.S. Air Force pilots are used for many purposes but what happens when these multi-capable jets start to break down from wear and tear?

Airmen assigned to the 20th Component Maintenance Squadron have the answer.

The 20th CMS's mission is to support a combat-ready wing of 84 F-16 Fighting Falcons and equipment by maintaining, repairing and rebuilding the aircraft's systems so that they can fly reliably.

"We provide support to a lot of the critical systems that the aircraft has," said Maj. Eric Tramel, 20th CMS commander. "We maintain the engine, the ejection seat and the pods that aid in the survivability of the aircraft through electronic warfare."

In addition, the Airmen assigned to the unit maintain flight control systems, the equipment used by the maintainers, the fuel systems and other similar systems of the F-16s.

"Everything in the aircraft is critical to the safety of flight," said Master Sgt. Tony Hyatt, 20th CMS production supervisor. "(By performing regular maintenance) we are sustaining the health of the fleet for a longer period of time."

By doing regular maintenance on the aircrafts, the 20th CMS prevents disasters from occurring.

"The bulk head could crack, a wing could fall off, there could be landing gear issues and engine malfunctions," said Hyatt.

The 20th CMS is composed of five flights that work together to keep the F-16s properly maintained. They are the programs; accessories; propulsion; avionics; and test, measurement and diagnostic equipment flights. The programs flight is in charge of safety, security, training and other support programs for the squadron. The other four flights are in charge of the maintenance of the F-16s.

"The maintainers on the flightline do most of the regular maintenance on the aircraft," said Airman 1st Class Joseph Posthuma, 20th CMS aerospace propulsion apprentice. "Anything they can't get to or are unable to fix we take care of."

There are four sections are make up the accessories flight and they are the egress section, the fuel system repair section, the hydraulics section, and the electronic and environmental section. The first section is egress, which deals with the aircraft's system that allows pilots to eject from the jet in case of an emergency. This system is referred to as called the egress system.

"My job is to basically maintain the seat and canopy of the F-16 and make sure it works the way it is supposed to," said Airman 1st Class Nate Shepler, 20th CMS aircrew egress system technician. "There is so much detail that goes into our work because one small thing can be a big problem. If one thing isn't connected properly then the system could fail."

If the egress system is not working properly, the jet will still fly but the pilot may be unable to eject to safety in an emergency.

"It makes me happy that what I am doing could potentially save someone's life," Shepler said.

Attention to detail isn't applied to just the egress section or the accessories flight as a whole but to the entire squadron.

"If the fuel tanks aren't sealed properly, fuel will leak and the aircraft won't have enough to complete its mission," Shepler explains. "If there was something wrong with wiring then there could be a spark. Suddenly, there is a fire (in the aircraft) and possibly an explosion."

In addition to the egress section, there is also the fuel system repair section.

"Most people associate the fuel systems with (re-filling the aircraft with fuel) but that is inaccurate," said Tramel. "These Airmen are working on the actual fuel system within the aircraft and its different components. When the system malfunctions you can have problems with the aircraft's balance, sustaining the engine and preventing fuel from rolling to the engine."

The hydraulics section is the third section of the accessories flight.

"We test, repair and rebuild hydraulic components, to include the breaks and the F-16s' flight controls," said Staff Sgt. Scott Tieskotter, hydraulics craftsman. "If they are not maintained then you wouldn't be able to steer or stop the jet."

The final section of the flight is electronic and environmental.

"We work on the aircraft's wiring and power generation along with the environmental systems like air conditioning and pressurization of the aircraft," said Senior Airman Trenton Mauck, 20th CMS E&E specialist.

Airmen throughout 20th CMS spoke about how they enjoy their work and what they contribute to not only the 20th CMS's mission but to Shaw's mission. Shepler loves that his work on the egress system could save someone's life, he said.

"I love this job," Mauck said. "I can't picture myself doing anything else. It is like a dream come turn to work on any aircraft in the Air Force. I like figuring out what is wrong with the aircraft, fixing it and, when it is all done, seeing it fly."

"I feel satisfied being a part of the reason why the aircraft is in the air. We provide aircraft that are able to deploy anytime and anywhere," Mauck added.

By maintaining the F-16 so they may continue flying, the Airmen of 20th CMS assist Shaw in completing its mission to provide combat ready airpower and Airmen for any challenge.

"Shaw's mission is our mission," Hyatt concluded.