SOUTHWEST ASIA – Maintainers assigned to the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron faced the flightline and stood shoulder-to-shoulder before the departure of an E-3 Sentry. When the aircraft was cleared for takeoff they dropped into push-up position.
As the aircraft roared during its acceleration the maintainers completed as many repetitions as they could during the launch.
“It’s fun,” said Senior Airman Colton, an E-3 Sentry engine maintainer. “It’s about getting everybody together and seeing the jet off in a different way.”
The E-3 Sentry maintainers haven’t had one of their aircraft miss a sortie due to maintenance issues in more than 90 days.
“Because we send jets [the E-3 Sentry] off so often – it’s a lot of pushups,” Colton said.
Since November 2016, the E-3’s have successfully completed 132 sorties and more than 10,000 hours of flight time in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Tech. Sgt. Eric, an E-3 Sentry expediter, praised the mechanics for the work they complete daily on the aircraft.
“It takes a lot of skill to keep these aircraft going,” he said. “So this accomplishment has a lot to do with how good the technicians are and a little bit of luck.”
The E-3’s airborne warning and control system provides a real time picture of the battlespace in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and has capabilities unmatched by any other aircraft in the area of responsibility.
“We have the best maintainers in the AOR,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jason, 380th EAMXS superintendent. “For three months, our Airmen have met every sortie scheduled and provided command and control for our coalition partners across the AOR.”