This time on Karen A. picks up the gauntlet: An up close look at what it takes to marshal an aircraft

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Doing "YMCA" with glow sticks the size of my forearm as a giant, metallic 'face' crept slowly towards me with wings outstretched ... Possibly a horrible nightmare, but it's also what it felt like when I came practically nose-to-nose with a KC-135 Stratotanker recently.

Usually, if you were to see an aircraft slowly heading in your direction on the taxiway or hardstand, you'd get the heck out of the way. However, this time I had to stand my ground and meet it (almost) head-on, when I got to experience marshaling one of the 100th Air Refueling Wing's aircraft out of its parking spot and on its way to carry out the mission recently.

As I waited nervously by Hardstand 31A, glow sticks clutched in my hands, Staff Sgt. Glenn Hendrix, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, stood close by to keep an eye on me and make sure I didn't direct the pilots to head off in the wrong direction on the taxiway. Meanwhile, my trusty sidekick, Staff Sgt. Jerry Fleshman, was on hand (but a safe distance away from the jet, obviously) to take photos as aircraft tail number 0016 headed towards me - getting closer ... and closer ... and closer (cue the theme music to "Jaws").

Luckily, the aircraft commander, Capt. Clint Albaugh, and his co-pilot, Capt. Chris Saettel, both 351st Air Refueling Squadron, happened to be a couple of my pilot buddies, so I was fairly sure they wouldn't mow me down.

For my first "challenge" this year, it was decided I should find out more about the little-known world of those who marshal aircraft (otherwise known as crew chiefs).

Marshaling is one-on-one visual communication used as an alternative to, or in addition to, radio communications between the aircraft and the air traffic control tower - which basically means getting the aircraft safely off the taxiway and onto the hardstands, and vice versa.

A pretty important job, I think you'll agree.

Many of us are used to seeing aircraft constantly taking off and landing, but what we don't usually see - or even think about - are the people who get them to and from there in the first place. While the pilots have got everything covered from takeoff to landing (and everything in between), they need some help with the initial and final stages of getting their jet launched and parked.

Enter the crew chiefs.

Now, I get to be up close to our refueling jets every Tuesday when I give the base tours, and I know that when you're standing next to one, or walking around it, it looks pretty big (even though it might look tiny compared to some of the other aircraft we see around here).

But just so you know - when you're standing still and one of those same jets is slowly but surely moving towards you (and you know you've got to stand your ground ... ) well, let's just say they seem even bigger, and you feel very vulnerable.

And call me crazy, but while "My Mum was run over by a KC-135" might be a funny story for my daughter to tell her friends one day, I'd much rather her be able to proudly tell them how I successfully helped launch one of the jets instead.

Sergeant Hendrix, an aerospace maintenance craftsman (or "crew chief") from Williamsburg, Ind., has been stationed at RAF Mildenhall for almost four years. Prior to that, he was at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and has been a crew chief for five years, seven months.

After a three-month stint at technical school, Sergeant Hendrix said crew chiefs then take upgrade training for 15 months to progress from a three- to a five-level, followed by a further year for five- to seven-level upgrade training.

A crew chief's work shift can last up to nine or 10 hours a day, and along with launches and recoveries, also involves day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of the 15 aircraft stationed here, both full inspections and "lighter" maintenance. They also help out other shops by doing in-depth maintenance when required, such as isochronal inspections.

Lighter maintenance involves changing, replacing and servicing tires, brakes and batteries, chock systems, bringing on and defueling gas, and other general upkeep.

"Day shifters generally do launches and recoveries; swing shifters are responsible for gassing and maintenance, and on mid-shift, it's usually refueling (while the aircraft is on the ground) and inspections," said Sergeant Hendrix. "As a seven-level, my typical day includes a little of everything."

While transient alert usually takes care of marshaling aircraft not belonging to the 100th ARW (if there are crew chiefs on board), RAF Mildenhall's crew chiefs help out when asked.

"But 99 percent of the time we take care of just our aircraft," the crew chief said.

However, they often get the chance to marshal other nations' aircraft when deployed.

"I've deployed for transient alert and was marshaling other air forces' aircraft, as well as air force-contracted aircraft. We also deploy for Third Country National duty, as well as working our actual maintenance job (downrange)," Sergeant Hendrix said. "I've had the opportunity to marshal C-130s and C-17s, along with Army C-119 Boxcars, Ilyushin iL-76s and Antonov An-12s, An-26s and An-24s (the latter four are Russian aircraft)."

He added that he felt the travel opportunities as a crew chief are one of the best parts of the job.

"I'm fortunate enough to be a flying crew chief, and get to travel at least three times a quarter," he said. "I've been to Finland, Austria, Germany, Spain, Lajes Field (Portugal), Crete, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, Acrotiri, Italy, Sicily and Cape Verde, to name but a few."

But there can be a downside too.

"We work a lot of hours - but we're mission essential, and we all knew that when we signed up for the job," he said. "But it has to be done - the mission has to be accomplished."

So when the morning finally arrived - bringing with it rain and a very grey sky - and I got the opportunity to marshal an outgoing jet, I was given two "wands" (the giant "glow sticks"), a fluorescent marshalling vest, foam ear plugs and a headset (for dual hearing protection, as it gets pretty noisy that close to a running jet).

With Sergeant Hendrix by my side, I felt sick with nerves as we were dropped off near the hardstand next to the jet, which already had its engines running as the pilots did their final checks. After waiting until a 352nd Special Operations Group aircraft left its ramp to taxi down the runway ahead of "my" plane and the taxiway was clear, we waited until we got the signal from Captain Albaugh, when he flashed the landing lights at me.

Then it was all systems go - nervously, I got through all the necessary marshaling signals (while standing in the grass, getting rained on) to get the crew and their jet off the hardstand, and they headed out to get on with their mission.

After giving Captain Saettel and Captain Albaugh a 'good-to-go' thumbs up and a quick wave (though I should point out that the crew chiefs salute at this point, rather than wave ... ), I watched as the aircraft headed off along the taxiway, ready to take off.

Job done - hurrah! (Phew!)

I have to say, marshaling that jet was a pretty scary experience - but our crew chiefs do it every day; getting aircraft (some much bigger than the KC-135) both launched and parked is all in a day's work for them.

By the way, so nobody is under the impression I just went out one day, grabbed a couple of "glow sticks" and wandered out to the flightline when I saw an aircraft preparing to take off ... rest assured I did get full permission from on high (Thanks Col. Charles Westgate, 100th Maintenance Group commander - you're my friend for life!)

And before they would even consider letting me loose near an aircraft, I had to do the same computer-based training the crew chiefs have to go through (with a score of 96 percent, thank you very much!) followed by training on a specific technical order and another online test, all to ensure safety requirements were met.

About the Author: Karen Abeyasekere is a public affairs specialist with the 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. She first began writing her "Karen A. picks up the gauntlet" stories in late 2008. The challenges are a way for her to experience first-hand some of the things our Airmen do daily, and then share her experiences with our readers. Some of the things she has taken on include: Firefighter training, military working dog handler training and bird control.  Anyone with ideas for future challenges should e-mail Ms. Abeyasekere at karen.abeyasekere@mildenhall.af.mil.