Aircrew flight equipment critical to B-52 mission

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  For aircrew members, waiting until something goes wrong in the air isn't the best time to be asking questions like, "Does my oxygen mask work?" or "Will my parachute open?"

Fortunately for Minot AFB aircrews who participated in Red Flag 08-03 at Nellis AFB, Nev., those were questions they didn't have to worry about. Aircrew flight equipment (formerly known as life support) makes sure worries such as these are taken care of, a task critical to the safety and success of day-to-day operations.

"We are the reason aircrews feel safe to fly," said Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Johnson, 5th Operations Support Squadron AFE supervisor. "They have a peace of mind knowing they have quality equipment and training to survive in life-threatening situations. With the heightened tempo of Red Flag, this was something we all took very seriously."

Some of AFE's duties include: inspecting, maintaining and adjusting aircrew life support and chemical defense equipment such as flight helmets, oxygen masks, survival kits, night-vision systems, parachutes, anti-gravity suits, eye and respiratory protective equipment, and other types of aircrew life support and chemical defense systems.

"We inspect and maintain all life-saving equipment on the B-52s," said Staff Sgt. Christian Lewis, 5th OSS AFE craftsman.

In all, AFE maintains more than $12 million worth of survival equipment on the 5th Bombs Wing's B-52s alone.

The AFE Warbirds who deployed to Red Flag were some of the best the Air Force has to offer, having won Best Small Program for Air Combat Command in 2007.

"You won't find a more dedicated, qualified and professional group of Airmen anywhere," said Sergeant Lewis. "We take great pride in making sure our aircrews receive the best training and most sound equipment possible."

One such dedicated Airman is Airman 1st Class Tony Iovinelli, 5th OSS AFE journeyman, who made the most of the on-the-job training he received during Red Flag.

"I learned how to field-pack a drag-chute," Airman Iovinelli said. "It was challenging at times. Back home, it takes us about 20 minutes to pack a drag-chute. At Red Flag, it took us about 45 minutes to an hour. We had limited equipment, so it forced us to be innovative."

(A drag-chute is an extra-large parachute that B-52 pilots deploy during landing to slow the aircraft's momentum. It is approximately 90 feet long.)

Nobody appreciates AFE's hard work and dedication more than the aircrew members themselves.

"Their motto is 'your life is in our hands' and that is so true," said Capt. Andy Bogusky, 23rd BS B-52 pilot. "If a bad situation comes up, we're depending on their work to save us. I appreciate that everything is clean and in top working order when I show up to fly. I don't have to worry about anything."

Maj. Dan Giacamazza, 23rd BS navigator and Red Flag director of operations, echoed Captain Bogusky's sentiment.

"They keep us alive and safe," the major said. "It's comforting to know we have such dedicated professionals maintaining our survival equipment. They do a fantastic job."