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Kunsan Airmen protect lives

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) --  There are a lot of safety measures in place that protect our lives in worst-case scenarios. There are seatbelts that help protect us in case of a car accident, fire extinguishers in case there is a fire, and safety harnesses for those who work at great heights. For the members of the 8th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment shop here, protecting Airmen's lives is their daily mission.

AFE shop members are responsible for maintaining all of the equipment that keeps pilots alive in the event of ejection from an aircraft. Their mission is to provide reliable state-of-the-art aircrew flight equipment and parachute systems for Kunsan Air Base members.

"We pack the seat kits for ejection seats and the parachutes for the seats as well," said Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Anlauf, the NCO in charge of AFE. "We also support the pilots themselves with their apparel."

The AFE shop staff maintains pilots' anti-exposure suits that keep them warm if they land in frigid waters, the gravity suits that protect pilots against the g-forces encountered in flight, and the harnesses that strap to the parachutes that strap into the ejection seats.

"We work on those components as well as life preservers," Sergeant Anlauf said.

Additionally, the AFE shop has three other sections, each with its own set of duties and responsibilities. 

Parachute section members inspect and maintain four types of parachutes.

"The most common problems we encounter with parachutes are they expire, or have snags and tears, or any type of corrosion or deterioration of the materials itself," said Senior Airman Michael Jackson, an AFE journeyman.

"Other problems include the stitches on the lines can pop and actually come apart, the connector links can corrode and separate from the rivets," Airman Jackson said. "All these things we actually repair and replace."

The sewing section is another major part of the AFE shop. This section gives AFE members the capability to tailor flight gear for aviators to ensure a proper fit and function. Each new piece of equipment has to undergo modifications for the particular requirements of its use. The sewing section staff also extends the service life of flight equipment and aircraft components by repairing and replacing fabric items.

"I repair and inspect the g-suit, anti-exposure suit, survival vests, and the parachute harness," Airman Jackson said. "The repairs can vary from simple seam repairs to complete build ups."

The floatation section mission gives pilots the ability to survive in any environment in which they may land. The floatation section staff works on packing the seat kits for the F-16 Fighting Falcon and also works on components that go into the seat kits. Additionally, they are responsible for life preservers and survival items for the pilots.

"The floatation section is responsible for the inspection, repair and repack of life preservers, one-man life rafts, and survival kits," Sergeant Anlauf said.

Members of the AFE shop don't have the luxury to be complacent. They are responsible for saving lives.

"Time, patience and dimensions are the most important things to keep in mind when doing this job," said Staff Sgt. Cortney Tanner, assigned to the AFE. "You need good time management so you can do the task in an expedient manner, while allotting yourself enough of a time gap/window for attention to detail with the components inspections and ensuring proper attachment and closure of all of your parts."