/ Published August 18, 2021
18th Operation Support Squadron airfield management Airmen conduct airfield coordination calls at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2021. Airfield management is often the main source of information for flight line emergencies and has the ability to close, suspend and reopen runways. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Thomas Harris, 18th Operation Support Squadron airfield management operations coordinator, conducts a Bird/wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard check on the flightline at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2021. BASH checks are an important task to make sure wildlife don’t damage jet engines. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adrienne Fields, 18th Operation Support Squadron NCO in charge of airfield management operations, demonstrates the use of a measuring wheel at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2021. One element of keeping the runway safe for pilots and planes is inspecting the markings on the airfield to ensure they were painted accurately and within regulation. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adrienne Fields, 18th Operation Support Squadron NCO in charge of airfield management operations, requests information over the radio at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2021. Airfield Management routinely identifies, marks and reports maintenance issues they find to the correct agency to repair, ensuring the airfield remains fully functional. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Samuel Frake, 18th Operation Support Squadron airfield management shift lead, dons personal protective equipment before operating on the flightline at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2021. Airfield management works alongside a variety of different organizations and military branches to ensure a safe runway. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adrienne Fields, 18th Operation Support Squadron NCO in charge of airfield management operations, assesses new information at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2021. Airfield management tracks and files flight plans which detail the route aircraft fly. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee)
U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Thomas Harris, 18th Operation Support Squadron airfield management operations coordinator, patrols the flight line at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2021. In order to ensure operations run smoothly, Airfield Management conducts runway checks, respond to emergencies and stay in close communication with the Air Traffic Control tower throughout the day. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee)
18th Operation Support Squadron airfield management Airmen coordinate to deter wildlife on the flightline at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 11, 2021. The runway is regularly monitored for wildlife, foreign objects and anything that could pose a safety hazard to pilots and aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee)