Tightening it up

Airman 1st Class Michael Banks, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, packages a B-52 Stratofortress drag chute Aug. 12, 2015, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Drag chutes safely slow aircraft upon landing and are essential safety equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel/Released)

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Wrapping up

Senior Airman Tyler Shepherd, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, folds a B-52 Stratofortress drag chute Aug. 12, 2015, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Drag chutes safely slow aircraft upon landing and are essential safety equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel/Released)

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Helmet adjustment

Capt. Jonathan Gibson, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-52 Stratofortress pilot, left, informs Airman 1st Class Michael Banks, 20th EBS aircrew flight equipment specialist, about needed adjustments to his flight helmet Aug. 12, 2015, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. As an AEF specialist Banks repairs and maintains vital life support equipment for aviators. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel/Released)

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Helmet cleaning

Airman 1st Class Michael Banks, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, disinfects B-52 Stratofortress aircrew helmets Aug. 12, 2015, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. After every flight AFE technicians clean and maintain essential life support equipment in preparation for the next mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel/Released)

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Survival vest review

Airman 1st Class Michael Banks, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, checks a survival vest worn by B-52 Stratofortress pilots Aug. 12, 2015, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Survival vests include infrared beacons, water, compass, medical supplies and other essential tools to help aircrews survive after an emergency landing or ejection. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel/Released)

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Pocket stitching

Senior Airman Tyler Shepherd, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, repairs the stitching of a parachute flashlight pocket Aug. 12, 2015, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. AFE specialists repair and maintain vital life support equipment for aviators. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel/Released)

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Fixing the stitch

Senior Airman Tyler Shepherd, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, tightens up the stitching of a parachute flashlight pocket Aug. 12, 2015, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. AFE specialists repair and maintain vital life support equipment for aviators. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel/Released)

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Aircrew flight equipment team keeps game rigged

Published Aug. 13, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel
36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Whenever aircraft take off from the flightline, Airmen with the 36th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment section and their deployed counterparts with the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron work behind the scenes to ensure parachutes for aircrew and airframe are ready to go.

From airframe chutes capable of stopping a heavy bomber such as the B-52 Stratofortress to personal survival kits and pilot helmets, the life support equipment technicians work to guarantee their reliability when it counts.

Feature Search

Tightening it up

Wrapping up

Helmet adjustment

Helmet cleaning

Survival vest review

Pocket stitching

Fixing the stitch