Flight equipment techs ensure pilot gear is good-to-go

Fighter pilot helmets await inspection at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. AFE technicians perform pre and post flight inspections of the helmets. The fighter pilot helmets are also inspected on a 30-day cycle to ensure every component is working properly. The maintenance of the helmets is critical to the pilot’s safety, communication capabilities and oxygen supply. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Fighter pilot helmets await inspection at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. AFE technicians perform pre and post flight inspections of the helmets. The fighter pilot helmets are also inspected on a 30-day cycle to ensure every component is working properly. The maintenance of the helmets is critical to the pilot’s safety, communication capabilities and oxygen supply. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

Staff Sgt. Steven Runion, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, gathers flight equipment due for inspection at the 40th Flight Test Squadron on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The Aircrew Flight Equipment technicians maintain three shops at Eglin, a shop at Duke Field and a shop at Hurlburt Field. The AFE shop supports aircrews and equipment for the F-15, F-16, A-10, CV-22, C-130 and the UH-1. The equipment maintained ranges from oxygen connectors to complex targeting systems. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ilka Cole)

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Staff Sgt. Steven Runion, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, gathers flight equipment due for inspection at the 40th Flight Test Squadron on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The Aircrew Flight Equipment technicians maintain three shops at Eglin, a shop at Duke Field and a shop at Hurlburt Field. The AFE shop supports aircrews and equipment for the F-15, F-16, A-10, CV-22, C-130 and the UH-1. The equipment maintained ranges from oxygen connectors to complex targeting systems. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ilka Cole)

Staff Sgt. Steven Runion, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, drills down the screws on the interior side of a fighter helmet at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. AFE technicians trim down any protruding screws to ensure no damage is done to the combat edge bladder. The maintenance of the helmets is critical to the pilot’s performance and safety. The bladder on the interior of the helmets is designed to improve tolerance to high-G maneuvers and help prevent G-induced loss of consciousness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Staff Sgt. Steven Runion, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, drills down the screws on the interior side of a fighter helmet at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. AFE technicians trim down any protruding screws to ensure no damage is done to the combat edge bladder. The maintenance of the helmets is critical to the pilot’s performance and safety. The bladder on the interior of the helmets is designed to improve tolerance to high-G maneuvers and help prevent G-induced loss of consciousness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

Staff Sgt. Karol Carmona, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, applies lubricant with a cotton swab to the ejection seat release fittings on a flight torso harness at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. AFE technicians perform pre and post flight inspections of the torso harnesses. In addition, the torso harnesses receive additional inspections and lubrication every 180 days. The torso harness is the connection point between the aircrew member and their parachute. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Staff Sgt. Karol Carmona, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, applies lubricant with a cotton swab to the ejection seat release fittings on a flight torso harness at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. AFE technicians perform pre and post flight inspections of the torso harnesses. In addition, the torso harnesses receive additional inspections and lubrication every 180 days. The torso harness is the connection point between the aircrew member and their parachute. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

Tech Sgt. Elijah Gantt, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, collects anti-exposure suits for inspection from the 40th Flight Test Squadron on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The anti-exposure suits are inspected by Aircrew Flight Equipment technicians every 180 days and leak tested every 365 days. The suits are worn when water temperatures fall below 60 degrees and provide flight crews protection from extreme water temperatures, and increase survivability rates in the event of an in-flight emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Tech Sgt. Elijah Gantt, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, collects anti-exposure suits for inspection from the 40th Flight Test Squadron on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The anti-exposure suits are inspected by Aircrew Flight Equipment technicians every 180 days and leak tested every 365 days. The suits are worn when water temperatures fall below 60 degrees and provide flight crews protection from extreme water temperatures, and increase survivability rates in the event of an in-flight emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

Fighter pilot helmets hang on locker pegs at the 40th Flight Test Squadron’s equipment room on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The helmets are stored on pegs to air them out after flights. Helmets are carried in helmet bags to and from the equipment storage room from the aircraft to protect them. The maintenance of the helmets is critical to the pilot’s safety, communication capabilities and oxygen supply. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ilka Cole)

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Fighter pilot helmets hang on locker pegs at the 40th Flight Test Squadron’s equipment room on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The helmets are stored on pegs to air them out after flights. Helmets are carried in helmet bags to and from the equipment storage room from the aircraft to protect them. The maintenance of the helmets is critical to the pilot’s safety, communication capabilities and oxygen supply. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Ilka Cole)

Tech Sgt. Elijah Gantt, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, conducts a leakage test on a CSU-22 anti-gravity suit at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The maintenance of the anti-gravity suits is critical to the pilot’s performance and safety. The anti-gravity suits increase a pilot’s mental capacity and allows them to pull more G-forces without losing consciousness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Tech Sgt. Elijah Gantt, of the 96th Operations Support Squadron, conducts a leakage test on a CSU-22 anti-gravity suit at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The maintenance of the anti-gravity suits is critical to the pilot’s performance and safety. The anti-gravity suits increase a pilot’s mental capacity and allows them to pull more G-forces without losing consciousness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

Col. Scott Thompson, 96th Operations Group commander, checks the fit of his Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System visor at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The JHMCS is a modified HGU-55/P helmet that incorporates a visor projected Heads-Ups Display to cue weapons and sensors to the target. The maintenance of the helmets is critical to the pilot’s performance and safety. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Col. Scott Thompson, 96th Operations Group commander, checks the fit of his Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System visor at the Aircrew Flight Equipment facility on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 9. The JHMCS is a modified HGU-55/P helmet that incorporates a visor projected Heads-Ups Display to cue weapons and sensors to the target. The maintenance of the helmets is critical to the pilot’s performance and safety. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)