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Not another face in the crowd

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Chad Warren
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  With the recital of a simple creed, several crew chiefs assigned to the 2d Bomb Wing were recognized as top performers in their career field by earning the distinction of dedicated crew chief. The DCC program is designed to appoint ownership of aircraft to the most proficient, reliable maintainers.

"He will be following the aircraft when it flies and lands," says Staff Sgt. Michael Hawkins, a crew chief with the 2d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "It's like having a kid."

A crew chief, formally known as a tactical aircraft maintainer, is responsible for ensuring all maintenance on tactical aircraft is accomplished, as well as maintaining support equipment and forms and records. The job of a crew chief is of the utmost importance, and is vitally critical to the operational mission of the wing.

The job of a crew chief is extensive and covers a wide variety of maintenance issues, including servicing aircraft, performing end of runway inspections, post-flight, pre-flight and phase inspections, as well as troubleshooting aircraft structures, systems, components and related equipment.

The dedicated crew chief program is designed to take that responsibility one step further. Having a dedicated crew chief assigned to a specific aircraft ensures continuity and intimate knowledge of each individual component.

"It helps to better the flying percentage for the wing because someone is always taking care of the aircraft," says Sergeant Hawkins.

Ensuring the operational capability of a massive aircraft such as the B-52H Stratofortress requires dedication, knowledge and a superior work ethic. The lives of the crew are in the hands of the maintainers every time they pull chocks.