International Airman of maintenance

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Amy Hansen
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
COLD LAKE, Alberta (AFPN) --  Tech. Sgt. Robert Damron wears nothing on his blue flightsuit to indicate his nation or rank. He motions to a group to follow him up the stairs to the hatch of the E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, a modified Boeing 707 most notable for the big radar disc mounted on the top.

Inscribed on the side of the aircraft is a palindrome -- NATO-OTAN. When asked about the significance of that, Sergeant Damron reveals his origins when he answers in a pronounced Kentucky drawl. This plane belongs to NATO, called the Organisation du Traite de l'Atlantique Nord in French.

Sergeant Damron, a flightline supervisor, is on assignment with NATO for three years. He oversees maintenance and makes sure the E-3A "goes when it is supposed to go," he said.

NATO comprises 26 nations from North America and Europe committed to the goals of the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed in 1949. These goals include safeguarding the common values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes throughout the North Atlantic area.

According the NATO Web site, participating nations provide crewmembers for 18 E-3As stationed at Sergeant Damron's home base -- NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany.

A long way from Germany, Sergeant Damron continues the tour here by showing the group the stations for the 17-person aircrew. The E-3A is here participating in Maple Flag 37, a multinational air combat exercise held by the Canadian air force.

The cockpit usually houses the pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer and navigator, he said. Behind them, the communications technicians sit just opposite the door hatch.

In the body of the aircraft, nine controllers perform duties very similar to air traffic controllers in towers on the ground. The data and radar technicians also sit in the middle of the plane, managing the flow of information going to and from the aircraft. Thick cables connect grey metal equipment containers with the radar disc on the top of the E-3A, commonly called the "Frisbee" by the crew. A mission commander oversees the operation.

The back of the plane has passenger seats for extra crew, a small kitchen and a bathroom. Sergeant Damron flew from Germany in the passenger section with about three other maintainers and extra aircrew.

On a recent Maple Flag mission, three of the 17 aircrew members were from the United States, said German air force Staff. Sgt. Chris Arens, a NATO communications technician. While many nations come together once a year to train at Maple Flag, the NATO E-3A aircrews are integrated year-round.

"Working for NATO with different nationalities is an eye opener," Sergeant Damron said. "It gives you a broader perspective on how things operate, and that's a good thing."