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    Equipped to refuel: AFE saves lives

    Equipped to refuel: AFE saves lives

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Alan Ricker | McConnell Airmen equip a KC-135 Stratotanker for flight Aug 11, 2017, at McConnell Air...... read more read more

    MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KS, UNITED STATES

    08.16.2017

    Story by Airman 1st Class Alan Ricker 

    22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

    The 22nd Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment Airmen provide and maintain safety and survival gear for aircrew and aircraft here to allow aircrew to have confidence in their equipment.

    Recently, the equipment was put to the test during a real-world emergency. Smoke filled the cabin and the aircrew quickly strapped on their quick-don oxygen masks. In order to clear the goggles of any remaining smoke, the crew had to pull a valve to release air from the mask to the goggles and dissipate the smoke. The masks enabled the aircrew to walk within a smoke-filled cabin, continue with normal operations and enabled the pilots to control the aircraft and land it safely, thanks to hard working AFE Airmen.

    “The equipment worked well -- they were able to breathe, they were able to see, nobody passed out and the aircraft was able to land safely,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Samson, 22nd OSS AFE technician.

    Aircrew flight equipment is an important job that gives aircrew a sense of safety when they conduct missions.

    “We do what we have to do to make sure our crew members can go out and do their mission successfully,” said Senior Airman Jordon Porter, 22nd OSS AFE technician. “We’re behind the scenes taking care of their equipment to make sure that if anything happens, they’re taken care of and they can come back home to their families and loved ones.”

    To help enable the air refueling mission, there are two main shops where AFE Airmen work and a third shop that trains AFE Airmen and crew members on aircrew contamination control area procedures.

    In the case of a chemical attack, aircrew would get brushed down and cleaned up at the ACCA. The chemical gear there is maintained by AFE Airmen.

    The first operational AFE shop maintains flight helmets, masks, night vision goggles, eye protection and chemical gear. They provide aircrew with fitted helmets and check for small defects that may make the equipment faulty.

    “We’re looking for even the smallest holes, scratches or tears that could potentially injure someone or endanger a life,” said Porter.

    The other shop works on equipment that is installed on the aircraft. This equipment includes quick-don oxygen masks, life rafts, inner and outer accessory kits, radios, flares, compasses, survival vests, body armor, emergency passenger oxygen system, life preserver vests, protective clothing kits and other equipment that might be needed for a hazardous situation.

    “It’s important for us to make sure that all of the equipment, survival gear and life-sustaining gear on the aircraft is in working order,” Samson said. “That’s something that we take seriously to ensure that these aircrew members and any passengers on the aircraft come back safely so they can fight another day.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.16.2017
    Date Posted: 08.16.2017 17:12
    Story ID: 245088
    Location: MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KS, US

    Web Views: 38
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN