Clear to land

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber Ashcraft
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
The Air Force has thousands of planes around the world that require an airfield in order to take off and land. It's essential the airfield be safe and well maintained at all times in case aircraft must launch at a moment's notice.

The airfield management specialists are the Airmen that take on those airfield responsibilities.

"We're responsible for the overall management of AM facilities and services to provide a safe, efficient and effective airfield environment for aircraft operations," said Jimmy Flentge, 2nd Operations Support Squadron deputy airfield manager. "Averaging more than 30,000 aircraft operations a year, it's imperative we keep Barksdale's flightline in perfect working condition. That also means ensuring flight plans are submitted to the Fort Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center so aircraft may operate within national and international airspace."

Flentge, who has worked as the deputy here for more than 15 years, also provides direct supervision and management to 16 airfield management Airmen.

"I work the typical boss stuff reviewing logs, enlisted performance reports and awards," he said. "But, I also maintain close contact with the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron Horizontal unit for pavement repairs on the flightline and CE Exterior Electric for airfield lighting maintenance. In addition, I also keep up with the Airfield Driving Program since there are an exceptionally large amount of flight line drivers. "

The deputy airfield manager job also involves inspecting construction sites, reviewing design plans for future improvements, coordinating barrier arresting kit gear maintenance and acting as the installation commander's agent to process civil aircraft landing permits.

"Also, we've put in more time for high-level distinguished visitor movements, final inspections of construction projects, and even for snow and ice removal from the flightline," Flentge said.

Airfield management's basic goal is to keep runways and taxiways running without interrupting the mission.

"We play an enormous role in maintaining what is an aging airfield environment here," said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Eberlin, 2 OSS airfield management operations NCO in charge. "Over the past three months, we have closed nearly every taxiway for extended periods of time to upgrade numerous concrete sections. This plays an important role in ensuring the 2nd Bomb Wing and host units continue to reach daily mission requirements."

Keeping up with daily mission requirements and flightline operations is just as important downrange.

"Barksdale AM Airmen deploy to numerous areas including several Army locations downrange," said Flentge. "We had one female staff sergeant hop from one remote runway to another with Special Forces in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Balad Air Base should really have a Barksdale Boulevard."

Although the Army has recently developed an airfield management career field, it's still transitioning and recruiting soldiers.

"Our Airmen have filled those gaps for quite some time," said Flentge. "No matter the service of the deployed units or the location of the airfield, the root of the job is to keep the runways safe and operable."