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6 March 18, 2016 Feature BULLSEYE
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RPA, from page 5 ______________ Class Tyler, 432nd ACMS RPA satellite U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen
communications technician. “We also
thorough pre-flight inspection to verify troubleshoot communication issues if Airmen from the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load a GBU-12 Paveway II
the RPA is air worthy. These inspections needed.” laser-guided bomb on an MQ-0 Reaper Aug. 5, at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The
include checking antennas, landing maintenance crew was evaluated on timeliness, safety, and precision of loading
gear, brakes, wings, tail planes, engines, The ACMS Airmen are unique, as munitions on remotely piloted aircraft as part of the 2015 Air-Ground Weapons
making sure openings are free of foreign they are members of the only aircraft Systems Evaluation Program also known as Combat Hammer.
objects, and ensuring the plane is not communications maintenance squadron
leaking any fluids. in the Air Force responsible for both
maintaining GCSs as well as ensuring
“As a crew chief we direct main- the entire data link is ready to support
tenance, replace parts, troubleshoot the aircraft.
malfunctions, train personnel, conduct
inspections, and document maintenance Each and every maintainer has their
forms,” said Staff Sgt. Matthew, 432nd own part to play in the success of the
AMXS crew chief. “Essentially we pro- RPA enterprise and making it work. No
vide mission ready aircraft so the aircrew matter their career field or what minute
can enable the RPA mission.” task lay ahead, for the importance of the
mission, even tightening a screw serves
GCS a greater purpose.
While the plane is being serviced and
prepared on the ground, Airmen from “These Airmen are saving lives every
the 432nd Aircraft Communication single day and enabling others to save
Maintenance Squadron, are at work lives,” said Chief Master Sgt. Robert,
behind the scenes inspecting the GCS’s 432nd MXS maintenance superin-
and conducting pre-flight servicing, as tendent. “The maintainer who thinks
well as ensuring the processers, screens, they’re just fixing a maintenance stand
links, and networks are operational. In is actually fixing the stand so that a
essence, the ACMS provides the link crew chief can get the plane to fly, so the
between aircrews in the GCS to the plane aircrew can train and gain experience
miles away. flying, so they can keep someone on the
“We maintain all the communica- ground safe downrange and be able to
tions equipment such as the antennas, return home to their families.”
ground data terminals, relays, and links
needed to fly an RPA,” said Airman 1st Editor’s note: The last names of cer-
tain individuals in this story have been
removed for security reasons.
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