Crew chiefs take to the skies

Published Nov. 9, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Timothy Boyer
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- When people are sitting in an aircraft, thousands of feet above the ground, and think about who is keeping them safe, the first person who jumps into their minds is probably the pilot. Pilots do play a crucial role in the safety of a flight, but they are not the only ones.

The 860th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-17 Globemaster III flying crew chiefs are responsible for maintaining aircraft serviceability at all times for their assigned aircraft.

"I am responsible for all systems, including , but not limited to, avionics, electronics, environmental and fuels," said Senior Airman John Williams, 860th AMXS C-17 flying crew chief. "I handle the coordination of parts, people and tools required for any major break when in location without available maintenance."

Mission success is often unattainable without flying crew chiefs. Important cargo might not arrive on time and medical evacuations might not be performed in time - possibly resulting in death, Williams said.

"The mission would be greatly affected," said Staff Sgt. William Cavasos, 860th AMXS C-17 flying crew chief. "If an aircrew flying the mission ran into a problem with the aircraft, an aircraft recovery team would be generated to repair the aircraft when it may have been a simple fix that could have been handled quickly and painlessly by a flying crew chief."

The job intensifies in a deployed environment, often with minimal crew rests between missions, Cavasos said.

"Aircraft maintenance is inherently dangerous," he said. "We use personal protective equipment - including hazardous material, hearing and burn protection - to mitigate risks and hazards."

There are other dangers such as large moving parts and high-pressure gases, Williams said.

"If the tasks involving all of these are improperly performed, they are very dangerous," he said. "If properly performed with all safety precautions, our risk is minimal."

The most rewarding part of the job is hearing about life-saving missions his crew directly impacted, Williams said.

Cavasos said helping bring needed supplies to the warfighter and bringing warriors home on a regular basis is a highlight in his career.

With such a big mission impact, flying crew chiefs are on demand and spend a lot of time away from their families.

"It can get stressful with family at home, especially when we're gone for long periods of time," Williams said.

With the importance and urgency of work and the amount of time away from family, it would be easy for flying crew chiefs to allow their morale to plunge. Williams, however, chooses to focus on the positives.

"The job struggles and time away makes me appreciate even more what is back home waiting for me," he said.