Luke, 24-hour operation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman C.J. Hatch
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke Air Force Base is a hub of activity during the day with maintainers beginning at 6 a.m. to prepare for a day of prepping, launching and recovering F-16s at Luke. They, along with a host of others, support the day-to-day flying operations of the base.

Maintainers still have a mission to perform even after it gets dark on the night shift.

Many Luke maintainers work the night shift preparing jets for the next day's flights.

"This is where the money is made," said 2nd Lt. Charles Glover, 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant officer-in-charge. "During the night shift you don't have to worry about meetings or other things going on during the day, so the guys come to work and get the job done."

Work completed during the night is similar to that during the day. The maintainers wash and repair the jets, load weapons and perform maintenance.

"We have to prepare the jets for tomorrow's missions, if that's loading weapons or changing the pod configuration," said Staff Sgt. Donald Sheppard, 309th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief. "Tonight we are changing the configuration on a couple jets. We will put on travel pods and missiles."

Maintainers will also change tires and brakes all to prepare for the flight to come.

"You see guys out here with a bucket of water and a rag washing jets by hand," Lieutenant Glover said. "The jets the guys are working on tonight will be going cross country so they are getting the brakes checked, tires changed and a hand-washing. "

Not only is the exterior of the jet prepared and weapons loaded, components and other interior parts are repaired or replaced during the night shift.

"I'm rerouting a harness tonight," said Airman 1st Class David Shinn, 309th AMU crew chief, pointing to an open panel he's working in, which is just barely big enough for his head and an arm. Wires and connectors dangle out where pieces have been removed. "We have to take out a lot of other pieces to get to a small wire back near the pilot's seat.

"Working nights is a good job. It's quiet so you get to focus on what you're doing. During the day I just do launch and recovery."

During the night maintainers make repairs so they're ready for the next day Lieutenant Glover said.

"It's a tough job these guys do and they don't get a lot of recognition for it," he said.