Maintainers mind William Tell

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Erin Tindell
  • William Tell Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Several maintainers are crowded inside a snack bar like a pack of sardines. Inside the small room, the Airmen watch live footage of a two-ship vs. four-ship mission featuring their team’s F-15 Eagles. Watching their aircraft perform is a rare occurrence for the Airmen, who usually send their jets off only to see them again when they land.

Maintainers have been working feverishly here at William Tell to ensure their aircraft are in top condition for the competition. They make sure every bolt is tightened and all control panels are properly configured.

“I’m responsible for everything about the aircraft, whether it’s included in my job description or not,” said Staff Sgt. Shawn Dohnell, a crew chief for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe team.

Taking care of $30 million aircraft is not simple, and maintainers tend to work long hours at home or when away. William Tell is no different, as maintainers have spent up to 16 hours on the flightline and in the team maintenance bays accounting for their aircraft, Sergeant Dohnell said.

“You have to have a solid mind because you work long hours. My life revolves around my job,” Sergeant Dohnell said.

To get their aircraft ready for the meet, maintainers bedded down several of their best F-15s at their bases and examined them with a fine-toothed comb, said Master Sgt. Andrew Artis, production superintendent for the Air Combat Command maintenance team.

The maintainers also had less time than previous meets to prepare their aircraft. Teams formed less than two months ago.

“I thought this year’s (competition) would look for well-prepared teams. Instead they went with ‘come as you are’ teams that had to scramble together (at the last minute),” said Staff Sgt. Richie Bill, a USAFE weapons troop.

But whether the maintainers had two months or two years to prepare, they still rehearsed their procedures thoroughly and came ready to compete, said Master Sgt. Santos Rodriguez, USAFE maintenance superintendent. And at William Tell, thoroughness equals points.

“If we miss something, the judges will see it. We don’t want to lose any points so we make sure we do everything right,” said Senior Airman Josh Fredrick, a crew chief for the Pacific Air Forces team.

Paying close attention to detail is important for maintainers because they are doing more than fixing aircraft; they are making sure their pilots fly safely. If the judges seem hard during the competition, it is only because so much depends on a maintainer’s ability to complete all of his or her tasks, officials said.

“You’re talking about the pilot’s life in your hands,” Sergeant Artis said. “It’s critically important that we cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s when it comes to aircraft maintenance.”