Attention to detail save lives

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Laura Max
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
When thinking about aircraft safety, people often think about the aircraft as a whole, engine maintenance, fuels, structural--all the things that make up the mainframe of the aircraft, but often overlook the safety equipment inside the aircraft.

The Airmen of the 354th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight are responsible for saving lives every day, by preparing and inspecting life saving equipment that is vital for pilots and flight crew members. Personnel issue, fit, repair, and maintain parachutes, among several other pieces of equipment that include helmets, oxygen equipment, anti-gravity garments, anti-exposure suits, survival kits, life preservers, rafts and other equipment.

Detail given to parachutes is particularly thorough, with inspections completed annually on a 365 day cycle. A systematic inspection of each section of the parachute is completed per the Tech Data--maintenance and air crew manuals, and all findings are compared to the Tech Data and repaired or corrected. If no findings are present, the parachute is determined to be operational.

Repairs depend upon the on the size and location of the damage. Although the equipment is very important, Airmen don't rush for any reason.

"A rule of thumb is, mistakes can be made if you rush," says Senior Airman David Fraser, 354th OSS aircrew flight technician. "This job is important because we save lives. It is our job to ensure the safety of all personnel who get into an aircraft. It is our goal to have every pilot and crew member come back safely every time."

To ensure that parachute repairs are completed properly, every repair is looked over by a second set of eyes before it leaves the shop.

Because of the importance of safety, damaged equipment is exchanged for working equipment so that pilots and aircrew can make it home or to their next temporary duty assignment instead of waiting for the equipment to be repaired. Once the equipment is repaired and deemed serviceable it will then be put back into circulation.

Aircrew flight technicians at Eielson are currently repairing parachutes from fighter aircraft from Kunsan Air Base, Korea. In one year, the shop is able to repair 18 to 20 parachutes, which doesn't include daily inspections.

"Our parachutes have a very high success rate," said Tech. Sgt. William Bender, 354th OSS aircrew flight equipment NCO in charge. "I'm confident in my wingmen due to their extensive training along with the two man concept."