Aircrew flight equipment holds aircrew lives in their hands

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon Johnston
  • 100 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  (Editor's note: This is the second installment of a three part series on the 100th Operations Support Squadron and its diverse mission)

Aircrew flight equipment plays a diverse and critical role in the overall operations of the 100th Air Refueling Wing. They are responsible for maintaining oxygen regulators and flotation devices in aircraft, packing parachutes and much more.

An offshoot of the 100th Operations Support Squadron, the section provides upkeep for critical aircrew equipment on the aircraft housed here.

"Our mission is to support the 100th Air Refueling Wing (and tenant units) by performing maintenance on the aircrew flight equipment," said Master Sgt. Glen Miles, 100th OSS aircrew flight equipment superintendent from Oceanside, Calif.

This equipment is used by various organizations on base, including the 352nd Special Operations Group and the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, who use the parachutes in their training and real-world operations. Though RAF Mildenhall's KC-135 Stratotanker fleet does not carry parachutes, the 351st Air Refueling Squadron does rely on the emergency oxygen regulators which the shops maintains, and are essential in the event of in-flight cabin depressurization.

Flotation devices such as life rafts and life preservers are also maintained by the section. All planes are outfitted with these devices in case they need to crash land in the water. Included in the rafts are first aid kits, which may be essential for survival in open water if a member of the aircrew was injured in a crash.

For missions flown in a chemical environment, the section provides specialized chemical warfare defense gear for aircrew members. The suits offer improved dexterity, so aircrew can perform tasks that require manipulation of sensitive equipment.

Along with post-crash survival gear, the shop also arms aircrew for missions that may require landing in a foreign country to refuel or offload cargo. Self-defense equipment is loaded on the aircraft to aid in the event of an attempted hijacking or opposition from local ground forces.

The purpose and drive of aircrew flight equipment is to protect and assist the aircrew in completing the mission at hand.

"The equipment we maintain is all for the aircrew, in support and service of them," Miles said. "It's all about protecting our aircrew."

The shop plays a pivotal role in emergency situations onboard an aircraft. The equipment they provide and maintain can mean the difference between life and death.

"Knowing that you hold somebody's life in your hands, so to speak, with the work that you do is pretty important," said Master Sgt. Brian Morales, 100th OSS aircrew flight equipment flight chief from Spokane, Wash.

With such an important role, Morales said he would like to see some of the equipment they use be updated for the aircrew they support.

"Some of the equipment is kind of antiquated," Morales said. "It still works and serves its purpose, but we're in the 21st century. These processes lag to catch up to the current technology," he said.

"My wish and hope is for a faster process to provide the best equipment, cutting-edge stuff, to all our crew members," Morales said.

Both Miles and Morales praise the people who perform the mission, too.

"Since being here in this shop, I've run across a diverse group of people who all bring something good to the table," Morales said. "I'm proud to be a part of this unit because of the people I work with."

"We have a lot of awesome people working here," Miles said. "And that is evident in the fact that we have taken (the) third and fourth quarter Airman of the Quarter (award)."

In the future, Miles would like to see aircrew flight equipment win the aircrew flight equipment small shop of the year award.

"They deserve it; they work hard for it," Miles said. "I'd like to see my folks recognized for all that they do."

Aircrew flight equipment is responsible for keeping flyers alive when things don't go as planned, which requires constant attention to detail and a commitment to the aircrew they support. Holding the lives of Airmen in their hands, the shop continues to maintain the equipment that keeps them safe.