AGE charged with ground equipment upkeep

Story and photo by Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Airman 1st Class Jonathan Penata, 86th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment technician, returns a  generator to its storage area Oct. 10 on Ramstein. The 86th AGE flight maintains all ground equipment for any aircraft coming through Ramstein.
Airman 1st Class Jonathan Penata, 86th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment technician, returns a generator to its storage area Oct. 10 on Ramstein. The 86th AGE flight maintains all ground equipment for any aircraft coming through Ramstein.

The 86th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment flight maintains all equipment on the flightline. If it deals with generators powering idle aircraft or heaters and air conditioners, chances are these Airmen are behind it.

“Without the AGE flight, you can’t run a flightline,” said Airman 1st Class Joshua Bringold, 86th Maintenance Squadron AGE technician. “We support any aircraft that comes through here by performing maintenance so they can continue their mission.”

The AGE flight Airmen prepare any and all ground equipment on the flightline. Members of the AGE flight ensure the support of contingency operations in Europe and Africa.

“It’s amazing how well these Airmen here get the job done,” said Master Sgt. Coelette Roe, 86th Maintenance Squadron AGE assistant chief. “We are almost always involved in all maintenance going on around the flightline.”

The AGE flight is able to support a variety of equipment used by maintainers to assist the combat mission around the world at a moment’s notice.

“We work on generators, diesel engines, jet engines, electrical equipment, hydraulic systems and air-conditioning systems,” Bringold said. “In extreme cases, we perform maintenance in different facilities around base.”

The AGE flight works hard to ensure Ramstein is always ready. Their motivation is proven through the proficiency of the maintenance they perform.

“We support missions in Europe and Africa, NATO missions and aeromedical evacuations for wounded warriors returning from combat, by maintaining all equipment on the flightline and ensuring it’s the best available,” Roe said. “Being able to see the Airmen here happy and excited about getting the mission done is rewarding in and of itself.”