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Aircrew flight equipment specialists keep Air Force operators safe

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ryan Liss
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AFB, Fla. --  Whether it's an air show, deployment, or high school tour, the tempo and the mission does not change for the 920th Rescue Wing Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) Specialists with the 920th Rescue Wing here.

The reservists are responsible for ensuring the pilots, aircrew and the pararescumen have all the necessary equipment to perform during any and all types of combat-search-and-rescue missions.

The biggest adjustment AFE specialists have to make is preparing the right equipment for the type of mission being flown. For example, preparing for an overseas combat deployment requires the most amount of equipment, but even for an air show, extra helmets, life preserver units (LPUs), and parachutes are required for media personnel who will be flying aboard the air show aircraft to capture the demonstration for the nightly news.

"We always want to make sure that everybody is safe, and has functioning equipment, whether it's for real life, combat or an exercise, like today's air show," said Staff Sgt. Stacie Greer, 920th Operations Support Squadron AFE Specialist.

The best way to ensure optimally functioning equipments is through pre-flight and post-flight checklists. Typically, the schedule for an air show will come out in advance, along with lists of passengers for the flights. This gives the AFE specialists time and awareness for not only the amount of equipment needed, but how long until the next scheduled flight.

"On average, it takes about thirty minutes to perform each checklist when we're dealing with an air show. The fact that the Cocoa Beach Air Show is during a unit training assembly (UTA) weekend, (November 5-6), allows us to have extra personnel to complete our various tasks," said Tech. Sgt. Xavier Coronel, aircrew flight equipment specialist, 920th Operations Support Squadron.

Additionally, the AFE Specialists will provide assistance to other military personnel flying in the air show. Many other aircraft, including fighter jets from other bases, are parked here to perform in the show. Sometimes the visiting pilots need additional or special life-support equipment. The 920th OSS personnel will work with AFE personnel from the other units to assist in solving any equipment issues.

At the end of the day, though, the AFE specialists take pride in showing off their capabilities to the general public, especially when a person watching today, could be saved by the 920th RQW tomorrow.

"We not only rescue military, we're also rescuing civilians. Anyone in distress at sea or on land, that's our mission. So it's good that we do these performances to show what we're capable of," said Coronel.

For more information about the 920th RQW, log on to the wing's Web site: www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.