End of runway crew is first, last stop for Eglin's test aircraft

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jasmin Taylor
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The radio cracks to life in a tiny building at the end of the flight line with sayings like "crew ready... crew show... engine start... taxi."

"We got taxis," says Tech. Sgt. Arthur Hamblin, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron end-of-runway inspection section NCO-in-charge.

It's a call to action for a small group of crew chiefs and weapons crews housed in a section known as the end-of-runway inspection section. The team there is tasked with being the initial and final set of eyes to examine 53rd Wing and 96th Test Wing aircraft before takeoff and upon arrival.

The EOR team members are on a one year minimum rotation. A position on the team is a reward to hardworking crew chiefs that stand out among their peers as the best of the best.

"We are the first in and last out," said Staff Sgt. Lena Bleckley, 96th AMXS weapons crew chief.

A normal duty day begins at 5 a.m. for Hamblin. He calls the maintenance operations center for the active runway, waits for the flight schedule to arrive, and prepares "the slide" that records and tracks all defects found during inspections for wing leadership. An hour and a half before the first launch, the EOR crew performs a routine FOD walk.

"In order to complete the mission, we are the end of the road for the jet," said Hamblin, a 20-year veteran. "We are the last ones to say yes this jet can go, it can do the mission, and it can get this test done."

Each aircraft receives six different inspections before it reaches the EOR crew. The aircraft they service are F-15's, F-16's, and A-10's. The EOR members rapidly and accurately check each aircraft for leaks, loose parts or any damage to the tires or aircraft that may have occurred in transit.

"You would be surprised what could happen to the aircraft from the time it rolls out of its parking spot until it makes it to the end of the runway," said Bleckley, who joined the EOR crew two months ago.

First, a crew chief chocks the tires and checks for hot breaks, wires, and wear and tear.

He said 'clear to arm munition' after he connects the communication cord to talk to the pilot.

After thumbs up from the pilot in the cockpit, the crew chief inspects the entire aircraft for leaks, open panels or doors.

"Our mission is to ensure it's a quality aircraft before it takes off," said Senior Airman Tom Cruise, 96th AMXS, EOR weapons crew chief for F-16.

Next, the weapons crew begins their hands on inspection of the munitions and weapons system to ensure nothing is loose. Then, they arm the munitions.

"We arm the weapons by twisting one of the handles on the AIM-9 missile and pull the chaff flare pin to arm them," Bleckley said. "The majority of what we do is pulling the pins that arm the jet."

A member of the EOR crew always carries a technical order which is a checklist to ensure no steps were overlooked.

"Last eyes, last look, last touch," said Hamblin.

"And then we make it dangerous," said Staff Sgt. Lena Bleckley, weapons crew chief, finishing Hamblin's statement.

The in-depth EOR inspection takes between five and 10 minutes. The pilot gives another thumb up to signal armed up and inspection complete.

"Jets good to go," said Airman 1st Class Clifford Bould, F-16 crew chief.

The chocks maintainers pull, the pilot salutes the EOR crew. The aircraft turns onto the runway, and the EOR crew catches their breath and returns to their tiny building for a break.

Most breaks are usually short lived, but when the crew has extended downtime, they use it to go to the gym, eat, check email, complete training, or study for college. Bleckley is currently studying for a nursing degree and hoping to get her commission next spring.

Sometimes the EOR crew will find a mechanical problem and need to send it back for maintenance, which causes flight delays. If that particular mission is important, the EOR crew will wait for the aircraft to be fixed.

"We had a jet come down without any lights on and when I asked the pilot to turn them on, we discovered they didn't work," said Hamblin, about the merits of their constant checking and rechecking procedures.

Such situations verify the importance of the EOR inspection and following checklists before take-off.

While the EOR crew chiefs are technically the first set of eyes to inspect an aircraft upon landing, the pilots also perform an in-flight inspection to assist the crew chiefs on the ground.

When "10 out," blasts from the radio, the de-arm crew is alerted and they have 10 minutes before the jet lands.

De-arm is similar to arming up, but performed at the end of a mission. Once the jet lands, a weapons Airman marshals the jet in, while the other crew members chock the tires, and begin communication with the pilot.

"All clear to de-arm?" they ask the pilot.

"Off, safe, and normal," the pilot replies.

Munitions are made safe again by replacing the safety pins into the weapon to de-arm. This procedure is to ensure each aircraft is safe to taxi back to its designated parking spot for the flight line crew to begin work.

If it's the last recovery launch of the day when the radio in the tiny building on the end of the flight line cracks to life with, "mission complete," it's time for crews to rest until the next day.

"Let's go home!" yells Hamblin.