Phase Airmen ensure next 450 flight hours

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The B-52H Stratofortress is a massive 185,000 pound aircraft, and every piece of it is crucial to the accomplishment of the mission.

Simply, the fault of any one part of the aircraft can lead to fault in other parts, and when lives and mission objectives are on the line, flying a defective aircraft is not an option for Barksdale.

The Phase Inspection hangar is where Barksdale keeps the Buff in top condition.

Every 450 flight hours, the B-52H Stratofortress undergoes a full inspection where parts are removed, disassembled, inspected and repaired or replaced as necessary and reassembled.

The B-52 is a complex machine and inspections are done by different teams of Airmen, and each team ensures the reliability of the part of the aircraft being inspected.

"We ensure all hydraulic components are in working order to ensure mission capability," said Senior Airman Richard Cota, 2nd Maintenance Squadron hydraulics journeyman. "If we don't do that, the jet won't fly and the mission won't be accomplished. We also assist the phase hangar by providing extra manpower as they need it. Once all the parts are reassembled, it's tested."

But hydraulics isn't the only critical component of the B-52.

Electronic and environmental maintenance is key to keeping the jet aloft by making sure the pilots in the cockpit know their electronics are functioning optimally.

"We systematically inspect the electronic components, isolate faults and complete operational checkups," said Master Sgt. Matthew Beam, NCO in charge of electronic and environmental maintenance. "We provide the foundation that establishes the training ground for these pilots. They can't train without flying."

Once the B-52 has taken flight, meticulous maintenance keeps the pilots safe. In case of an emergency, egress systems Airmen save the aircrew's lives.

"Our jobs entail the explosives that have to do with the ejection seats," said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Rose, 2MXS egress systems craftsman. "We'll remove seats and hatches and do an inspection on everything we remove inside the cockpit. We make sure there are no faulty explosives and make sure everything else is functioning as it was designed to."

"Everything we do in phase is preventative maintenance," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Rideout, hydraulics specialist. "If we didn't do all of these inspections, the plane wouldn't fly. We all ensure the stability and integrity of the aircraft for another 450 flight hours."