MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airfield systems technicians maintain complex, often aged, systems to ensure KC-135 Stratotanker pilots are able to take off, complete their mission, and land safely back home at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
These highly skilled Airmen maintain many different types of equipment from mission essential ground-to-air communications, to air traffic control landing systems (ATCALS) on the runway, and even weather equipment used to broadcast all over the continental U.S.
Not only do the airfield systems technicians work on weather equipment at MacDill, but their reach extends to the Avon Park Bombing Range as well. Avon Park is a hub for numerous Department of Defense activities and is primarily used during training exercises.
ATCALS Airmen also ensure pilots know the weather conditions upon arrival or departure.
“We relay runway conditions to pilots to help them prepare for landing or takeoff,” said Staff Sgt. Scott Phillips, the NCO in charge of maintenance and data collection assigned to the 6th Operation Support Squadron. “It’s critical that our equipment stays mission-ready to support incoming and outgoing aircraft.”
Part of the integral role that airfield systems Airmen play for the 6th OSS is with their equipment that essentially works as the eyes for a pilot when visibility is low.
“There is no flying in inclement weather without our equipment working,” said Phillips. “Pilots can land themselves when they can see; when they can’t, it’s up to us to get them on the ground safely.”
With the emergence of the KC-135 in 1957 came the need for more Airfield Systems technicians to maintain equipment in support of the refueling mission.
“It’s safe to say our radios have been talking to tankers since they started flying 60 years ago,” said Staff Sgt. Andreon Downs, the assistant NCO in charge of airfield systems assigned to the 6th OSS. “It brings a sense of pride to us here to be able to go out and maintain equipment with so much history behind it.”
Airfield systems Airmen work day-to-day outside of the limelight. Their focus is to keep their equipment ready in support of the round-the-clock tanker mission.
“When things break, the spotlight gets focused on us,” said Phillips. “However, our standard is to have the equipment working 100 percent of the time so no one knows we were there.”
With airfield systems, it’s easy to see exactly where there job impacts the overall mission.
“For most Airmen, it’s kind of hard to see where your work relates to the bigger picture,” said Phillips. “In this career field, it’s really obvious. One radio working or not impacts the KC-135 in its ability to refuel.”