Photo By Tech. Sgt. Shawn Nickel | U.S. Air Force Maj. Michael Kuzmuk, an 18th Aggressor Squadron pilot, and 1st Class...... read more read more
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The monumental task of keeping a 30-year-old jet flying like a prize fighter fresh from the show room floor isn’t an easy task.
Preparing a jet for a surge operation simulated during RED FLAG-Alaska adds exponentially to the mission, which takes numerous Airmen from the 354th Aircraft maintenance squadron to complete.
Airman 1st Class, Victoria Ortaleza, a 354th AMXS electronic and environmental systems journeyman, had the opportunity to participate in a familiarization flight May 5 in one of the F-16D Fighting Falcon aircraft she helps maintain.
“It's different to see a jet on the ground and know the book theory of why things work the way they do, but to actually go up in the air helps us see the big picture of how everything we do comes together,” Ortaleza said. “Considering the mission of the 18th Aggressor Squadron is to be ‘bad guys’ and train other units, RED FLAG is the perfect time for a fam flight because we're doing exactly that.”
With more than 500 tactical flying hours logged during each RF-A, maintainers work around the clock on various systems, each requiring a specialized Airman. One of the systems Ortaleza is responsible for working on is the environmental control systems, which controls pressurization, heating and cooling throughout the equipment and cockpit, as well as oxygen systems.
“This showed me just how different it is to rely on the oxygen supply rather than just inspect and fix parts for it,” she said. “Whenever I help launch out jets and see the pilots taxi away I wondered what it's like to go from breathing freely to breathing controlled air. After seeing the physical endurance it takes to fly the way they do at the high altitudes, my questions were answered.”
Not every maintainer gets the chance to experience what their intense work turns into, but supervisors recommend their top Airmen for the experience.
“Airmen at her level don't realize the impact we make on the world,” said Master Sgt. Ian Neske, a 354th AMXS specialist section chief. “Her 10 –to-12 hour swing shifts during RF contribute to the training of joint and international partners; preparing them for real world events. I call her my ‘sniper’ because she is extremely quiet, but she is very involved in everything both on and off duty.”
In addition to her contributions to RF-A, Ortaleza contributed to more than 500 “Red Air” sorties in the past six months during temporary duty operations across the globe. She also “smashed” her career development end of course test with a score of 98, ranking her well above most of her peers, which earned her journeyman certification.
“This is a big deal in maintenance because it signifies a time when you can officially work on your own and are expected to uphold our standards with regard to attention to detail and high quality work,’ Neske said. “She has not only done a great job learning and performing her job, but she also moves outside her comfort zone to assist the other specialties in our shop with their work. If she continues on the path she is on, she will be very diverse and continue to become even more valuable to the mission.”
The familiarization of Ortazela and other Airmen to the Aggressor’s efforts is demonstrated in the massive success of RF-A exercises.
“The lion’s share of the mission rests on the shoulders of our maintainers,” said Lt. Col. David Graham, 18th AGS commander. “Familiarization flights give these Airmen a chance to see the big picture of their supreme efforts and what happens in these jets after they launch. Without them RF absolutely wouldn’t happen.”
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2016 18:27 |
| Story ID: | 197580 |
| Location: | EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 388 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Flying to get familiar; maintainer gains new perspective of mission, by TSgt Shawn Nickel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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