AFE: Ensuring Aircrew Safety

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sean Martin
  • 2nd Bomb WIng Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE, La. --  Aircrews spend hours of planning, preparation and training to fly their missions, but sometimes missions don't work out as expected. That's why the 2nd Operational Support Squadron's Aircrew Flight Equipment shop plays a key part for aircrews - helping them prepare for the unexpected.

The Barksdale AFE Flight works in direct support of the Air Force Global Strike Command mission. It is their job to provide the aircrews with safe and effective flight equipment. This is accomplished with meticulous equipment inspections, and ensuring the best equipment is available to reduce injuries and increase aircrew survival.

"The big picture is we maintain, inspect, repair and issue the equipment that keeps crew members alive in the air, on the ground and the time in between," said Capt. Edward Nichols, 2nd OSS AFE flight commander.

The AFE Flight helps the mission by reducing injuries and increasing the survival rate by providing aircrew and passengers with the best equipment available through new technologies, system training and quality system maintenance.

AFE is broken down into three areas. These areas include:
- The wing's AFE building where aircrew training is conducted. They are trained on aircrew chemical defense, aircrew equipment and emergency egress procedures.
- The Information Operations Center, where the majority of the aircrew flight equipment is located. This section deals with maintaining, inspecting, storing and equipment issue to the crew members.
- The flight line section is in charge of maintaining, servicing and assembling aircraft drag chutes, parachutes and survival kits. They also perform inspections on equipment that is loaded onto the aircraft and respond to problems that are discovered by maintenance or the aircrew themselves.

There are many different types of equipment that AFE deals with. The equipment consists of aircrew helmets, life preserver units, survival vest and equipment, night-vision goggles, parachutes, eye and ear protection and chemical warfare equipment. They also issue weapons to deploying Airmen.

AFE supports many organizations on base, such as the 2 BW, the 96th, the 20th, the 11th BS, and various other agencies.

"It is very important to me to be a part of such an important part of the mission," said Airman 1st Class Darian Bonney, 2nd OSS aircrew flight equipment journeyman. "I know that if something were to go wrong, the aircrew would be safe and have all the essential materials to survive because of our dedication to them and the equipment they are issued."