The doctors of maintenance

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Every Airman, regardless of age or rank, must be cleared by a medical doctor before they're able to engage in overseas contingency operations. Air Force aircraft are no different, except they don't see just any doctor. 

The Non-Destructive Inspection section in the 354th Maintenance Squadron provides a closer look at Eielson's F-16's, ensuring the stability and integrity of the aircraft so they can continue to meet mission requirements. 

"Some people call us the doctors of maintenance," said Airman 1st Class Marvin Moss, NDI journeyman. "If the engineers say there's something wrong with the aircraft, we take a look at it and try to figure out what's wrong with it." 

Like doctors running blood work on a patient, NDI performs inspections on the oil from the aircraft, looking for elements like zinc, copper, and silicon; making sure they are at the correct amount. 

"We run oil tests after each flight," said Airman Moss. "It usually takes about 15 minutes to get back solid results, and from there we notify the crew chiefs of what we found." 

If something appears wrong, a resample is conducted; the results conclude if the aircraft is able to fly or if maintenance is needed. 

Nearly 3,000 oil samples are conducted yearly, contributing to Eielson's training missions. 

NDI is also responsible for finding corrosion and cracks in the aircraft structure. 

"Weather and the wear and tear of metals are known to cause problems on the aircraft," said Airman Moss. "We run x-ray, magnetic probes and ultrasonic tests on the entire jet, helping determine if there is a crack or corroded part in the structure." 

Each process is time sensitive, making each inspection crucial for NDI. If something is over looked or missed, it could mean loss of government property or life. 

"Instead of tearing apart the entire aircraft, we use these specialized tools because most of the problems can't be seen by the naked eye," said Master Sgt. Mark Hamilton, NDI section chief. "We can prevent catastrophic failures and ensure aircraft integrity; it's the same principles of a medical doctor--except we do it on planes." 

"What NDI does is a critical part of maintenance," said Airman Moss. "It's a very technical and challenging job, and there is a lot of responsibility that comes with it." 

Ensuring the Air Force's aerial arsenal is in great working condition isn't the only thing NDI has their hands in. 

"This career field isn't just limited to aircraft; NDI has assisted with testing metals, welds and resting hooks for barriers," said Sergeant Hamilton. "We've teamed up with squadrons likes civil engineering and logistics readiness, helping find out if their product is structurally sound and ready for use." 

"Properties in metals change over time," said Sergeant Hamilton. "It's only a matter of time before it fails, and we're here to catch it before it does."