Page 5 - Nellis Creech NTTR Bullseye 3-18-16
P. 5
BULLSEYE Feature 5March 18, 2016
www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb Facebook.com/NellisBullseye
Piecing the puzzle together, RPAs provide crucial CAP capabilities:
Pre-flight maintenance
By Senior Airman Christian Clausen team. We get the job done, so that other
AFSCs can have what they need to do
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing theirs.”
Public Affairs
With the ammo delivered to the flight
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — line, it is up to the weapons load crew
members to affix the munitions onto
With a mission fully planned, remotely the RPA while ensuring they’re ready in
case the aircrew needs to use them. The
piloted aircraft and ground control sta- munitions are loaded on the aircraft with
a configuration best suited for the mis-
tions must be in complete working order sion’s objective.
to ensure the aircrew has an operational “We’re responsible for loading the air-
craft with munitions, specifically Hellfire
Remotely Piloted Aircraft to get the mis- missiles, GBU-12s and GBU-38’s,” Staff
Sgt. Christopher, 432nd AMSX weapons
sion done successfully and safely. load crew team chief. “We work in crews
of three following a checklist to ensure
To accomplish this task, Airmen from the weapons are loaded on time, cor-
rectly, and safely.”
more than 19 Air Force Specialty Codes
Aircraft
work together to manage the safety of With the aircraft loaded and ready to
go, it must be inspected by the crew chief,
the aircraft by ensuring its weapons are avionics, and weapons load crew mem-
bers. Everything is examined to include
correctly built and loaded, the Ground U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen the structure of the aircraft, accuracy of
Control Station’s are operational, the the weapons load, and the condition of
data links are active, and the equipment The constant and insatiable demand for remotely piloted aircraft airpower has placed the aircraft radars.
needed to maintain the aircraft are stressors on nearly every career field within the enterprise. For the RPA maintenance career If the structure isn’t sound, the air-
operational to ensure remotely piloted fields, these stressors are causing the retention rates to plummet causing rates lower than craft structural maintenance shop will
that of any other aircraft in Air Combat Command. determine the type and severity of the
damage, and whether or not it’s repair-
aircraft operations can be conducted plete the mission and overcoming being downrange [that is] needed to carry out able. If a structural repair is needed, the
worldwide. undermanned and having low retention the mission,” said Senior Master Sgt. aircraft will be taken off the line and
rates. Steven, 432nd MXS flight chief. “RPAs replaced with another.
“Our Airmen are on the front-lines can’t take off without ground support “If we didn’t exist, there wouldn’t be
everyday contributing to the mission Once the missions have been sched- assistance, and that’s just what we’re a means of organizational level or even
in a bigger way than they see,” said uled, the production superintendents are doing here.” field level repair,” said Tech. Sgt. Daniel,
Chief Master Sgt. Stacy, 432nd Aircraft responsible for overseeing all of the mov- 432nd MXS aircraft structural mainte-
Maintenance Squadron chief enlisted ing parts to getting the RPAs ready to fly. This equipment encompasses aircraft nance craftsman. “If an MQ-1 or MQ-9
manager. “They are all professionals. stands, mobile transfer containers, gen- had a structural flaw caused by wear and
Everyone comes with a great attitude AGE erators, self-generating nitrogen carts, tear, moisture absorption or any way
when it comes time for business which The men and women of the 432nd bomb lifts, and more. Not only does of structurally damaging the aircraft,
ultimately is enabling the global RPA MXS aerospace ground equipment shop the 432nd MXS AGE sustain the formal it would eventually, dependent on the
enterprise.” ensure the equipment needed to service training unit at home station, but also damage, become structurally unsound
the aircraft are in operational order, both multiple areas of responsibilities down- and not airworthy.”
According to Stacey, another impres- at home and downrange. range. Like structural maintenance, avion-
sive aspect for the 432nd Maintenance “We get our guys the equipment ics Airmen play their part in the bigger
Group is the Airmen being able to com- Without AGE, the maintainers de- picture of RPA operations. These Airmen
make certain all the electronics in the
ployed in support of global contingency aircraft wired together to make every-
thing work in harmony.
operations wouldn’t have the necessary “As avionics specialists, we’re respon-
sible for nearly all of the electronics, wir-
tools to service the aircraft rendering it ing, control, modules, communication
equipment, navigation, flight controls
inoperable to fly. If the aircraft is unable and more,” said Senior Airman Derek,
432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
to fly, the joint combatant command’s avionics supervisor. “Before launch, we
also load mode four codes, GPS codes,
needs for intelligence, surveillance, and and encryption codes into the plane
and check that certain systems are func-
reconnaissance would not be met. tional.”
Before flight, the crew chief conducts a
Weapons
____________ See RPA, on page 6
The MQ-1 Predator is capable of car-
rying two AMG-114 Hellfire missiles,
while the MQ-9 Reaper is capable of
carrying four Hellfire missiles and two
GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs.
The Reaper can also carry varied con-
figurations of eight missiles, four bombs,
or even carrying external fuel tanks.
Before these weapons can be loaded
onto an aircraft, the men and women
from more than seven ammunition sec-
tions must check out the required muni-
tions from the storage area. They must
build the bombs, maintain account-
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen ability of every piece, and deliver the
Senior Airman Joshua, 432nd Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance ordnance to the flight line for loading.
journeyman dons a mask designed to keep hazardous paint and composite particles from “Without ammo, Creech wouldn’t be
being breathed in before sanding a panel for the MQ-1 Predator Feb. 18, 2016, at Creech able to do its part,” said Senior Master
Air Force Base, Nev. The aircraft structural maintenance shop is responsible for the repair Sgt. Barry, 432nd MXS munitions flight
and fabrication of aircraft skin, structures, metallic tube assemblies, windows, canopies chief. “My unit is made up of some very
and corrosion control for the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper. strong and motivated Airmen, we’re a
