Crash, recovery maintenance handles jobs large, small Published July 5, 2013 By Elizabeth Ritsema 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Many factors are involved in making sure our Airmen are safe in the air, and maintenance crews are key in keeping aircraft operational. The 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Repair and Reclamation flight only selects the top maintainers for manning the crash damaged or disabled aircraft recovery team. Their responsibilities include response to inflight emergencies, ground emergencies and repairing disabled F-15 Eagle fighter jets. "They [48th EMS] want the best experience out on the flight line to come out and do this job," said Staff Sgt. Erick Ballesteros, 48th EMS Repair and Reclamation craftsman. "In recovery, you rig flight controls, so you deal with each of the things that makes the Eagle fly." Rigging the flight controls is only part of the job, but keeping the pilots and craftsmen safe are the top priority. "Once you know how to rig and know how the flight controls work, it's a persons' life you have in your hands," added Staff Sgt. Jose Contreras, 48th EMS repair and reclamation craftsman. While focusing on their different duties, they must also keep personal safety in mind. Some safety precautions they have involve the wearing of ear protection if within 50 feet of the supporting equipment - which is any equipment that adds power to the jet without turning it on. Depending on operations, it's also sometimes mandatory to wear a flame resistant suit over the uniform, leather gloves or respirators. "It's kind of a difficult job, but as long as you're aware of the danger areas of the aircraft then you're fine," added Contreras. Contreras and Ballesteros each had more than two years work experience on the flightline before being moved to crash and recovery. "You kind of get an all-around picture of how the F-15s work and on the line you launch them out and deal with the pilots," said Ballesteros. "In [repair and reclamation] you actually break down the meat and potatoes of what drives the aircraft." They take great pride in directly impacting daily operations throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe. "I've always had that feeling that I consider myself to be free, but I didn't do anything to earn it. So me being here, I kind of want to earn my freedom and not just take it for granted," said Ballesteros.