Maintaining the defense of Iceland

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Gallahan
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KEFLAVIK AIRPORT, Iceland --  Aircraft maintainers are the backbone of the U.S. Air Force. Their job is to simply keep one of the world's largest fleets of aircraft flying. 

The maintainers assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, proved their worth to an international audience during a recent deployment to Iceland. 

The squadron participated in Northern Viking 2008, a multinational exercise designed to enhance interoperability of multinational forces so they can assist with the defense of Iceland. 

Although the exercise only lasted a week, maintainers have been pouring sweat and tears into these aircraft for 30-plus years to keep them ready for moments like this.
Their efforts enabled the 493rd FS to meet every flying commitment during this exercise. 

"You're not going to fly without maintainers," said Airman 1st Class Maria Carlson, an F-15 crew chief with the 493rd FS. "Preventative maintenance is one of the best concepts in the Air Force ... it keeps the jets flying." 

It hasn't been easy for the more than 70 maintainers deployed to support the F-15s during Northern Viking. They've faced challenges such as finding the right facilities to work out of and offloading the two C-17s and C-5 cargo aircraft it took to get the personnel and equipment here. It took three 18-hour days to offload the cargo jets. 

But they say it was worth it. 

"I'm learning how we fit into the bigger picture and why my job is important," said Airman 1st Class Gomes Martinez, an armament team member with the 48th Munitions Squadron. He makes sure the weapons systems on the aircraft work. 

"This deployment motivates me to do a better job," he said. 

"This reminds me that I'm more than just someone who helps a pilot get his qualifications and that I'm actually a part of the bigger picture," said Staff Sgt. Heather Schiodtz, an avionics specialist with the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. She works on the aircraft's flight controls, navigation, communication and radar systems. "It's bigger, way bigger, we forget how big what we do is being back at Lakenheath." 

"It feels good to be here. You feel like you're helping someone else out, and it's kind of nice to be relied on a little bit," she said. "We're capable enough to protect and secure our own country, but then there's another country asking for our help and that always feels good." 

The maintainers aren't just feeling good about the exercise and the mission, but they're working out kinks and improving processes each time they come here. 

"For [the Icelanders] to keep the facilities up and for us to keep using them and exercising in them, it keeps them used to seeing us and us used to operating out of here," said Chief Master Sgt. Gene Lawson, 493rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendant. "If we come back, we'll already know how to roll in and set up, and it will be a lot easier." 

They are also learning how to support and rely on militaries from other multinational forces. When the first teams arrived they made contact with the other countries and found ways to support each other. Since the Canadians are using CF-18 aircraft and the Norwegians are flying F-16s, they could all share pieces of equipment like a tire gauge. 

The Norwegians helped the Americans by providing lab results on the local breathing oxygen quality. Chief Lawson ran the results of the tests through his supervisors and ultimately found they are able to use local breathing oxygen as a secondary source for pilots. 

When the Canadians arrived, their contract for the breathing oxygen fell through; without that contract they wouldn't be able to participate in Northern Viking. Chief Lawson and his band of maintainers found a way to get the Canadians the oxygen they needed. 

"As far as the whole NATO thing, it's just about building relationships, so we can count on each other," Chief Lawson said. "You never know when you'll really need some support from someone." 

In the end, maintenance is maintenance regardless of nationality or country of birth, and Northern Viking 2008 demonstrated that maintainers are improving their interoperability with every exercise, and they're proud to do it.