Avionics technicians integrate expertise, teamwork, to keep jets flying

Photo By Randall Burlingame | Senior Airman Tim Mullane and Airman 1st Class Bella DiLorenzo, 104th Maintenance Group integrated avionics technicians, perform a phase inspection on an F-15 Eagle Sept. 7, 2019, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Avionics technicians are responsible for maintaining all of the computer systems, such as radar and threat detection, on the F-15s. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Randy Burlingame)  

WESTFIELD, MA, UNITED STATES

09.25.2019

Story by Senior Airman Randall Burlingame 

104th Fighter Wing

Integrated avionics technicians are responsible for maintaining the communication and navigation systems, automatic flight controls, radar, and targeting systems on the F-15 Eagles, here.

The expertise and teamwork displayed by the avionics team at the 104th Fighter Wing ensures safe and reliable aircraft, allowing pilots to execute their mission successfully.

“It’s so integrated that everybody has knowledge in every system and how they work with each other,” said Staff Sgt. Kyle Cote, 104th Maintenance Group integrated avionics technician. “Because we have so many systems, there is something every day that requires our attention. We go out, troubleshoot, and fix it.”

Avionics red ball maintenance crews help with sortie generations by responding to any potential avionics issues that occur within two hours of a flight and providing immediate maintenance assistance, when possible.

“It is something where the pilot is already in the seat, and they call in to say something is not working properly,” said Cote. “That’s where the red ball crew comes in, and we fix it on the spot. We might even change parts on the go while they’re waiting to take off so we can get them up in the air.”

For Senior Airman Mike Papoutsakis, 104th MXG integrated avionics technicians, some of the more complicated tasks he encounters are his favorite part of the job.

“I like when a job isn’t just a simple fix,” said Papoutsakis. “When you actually have to read more into how the system operates, and you go into wiring diagrams and schematic diagrams and you have to trace signals.”

The avionics Airmen display they dynamism by working as a team to reliably accomplish the more than 200 tasks they are responsible for.

“There’s a lot of stuff where one person might have seen it before, and that’s the only time it’s ever come up,” said Cote. “Having a diverse team that can come at it from a couple different angles is huge.”

Airman 1st Class Justin Marshall, 104th MXG integrated avionics technician, explained one of the ways an issue can become complex.

“One bad part can be a problem for multiple systems,” said Marshall. “It’s all integrated.”

Colonel Andrew ‘Bishop’ Jacob, 104th Operations Group commander and an F-15 pilot, said the work the avionics Airmen accomplish is crucial to the pilots’ success in the sky.

“The avionics systems on the F-15 are critical to what we do in the air as pilots,” said Jacob. “Avionics personnel are responsible for the components that ensure pilots have offensive capability with the radar, defense capability through the Radar Warning Receiver, and situational awareness using systems like Fighter Data Link. They are also responsible for safety of flight systems that allow us to aviate, navigate, and communicate. Without avionics, the F-15 is a loud and fast Cessna 152 that would be better suited on the general aviation ramp instead of the Barnes Air National Guard Base fighter ramp.”

• Date Taken: 09.25.2019
• Date Posted: 09.25.2019 15:27
• Story ID: 343704
• Location: WESTFIELD, MA, US