EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tia Heyob, 356th Fighter Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeymen, assists the 355th Fighter Squadron by cutting threads on a pilot's gear before a sortie on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Feb. 14, 2024. Aircrew flight equipment Airmen are responsible for ensuring that all flight and safety equipment is in perfect working order through 15 separate pre-flight checks.