Selected enlisted personnel volunteer for a three-year tour with the squadron, after which they return to the fleet. Though every team member has a distinct job specialty, each is expected to work beyond that specialty to make the Blue Angels a more effective team. The squadron consists of 14 distinct work centers jointly responsible for guaranteeing command readiness.
The Command Master Chief (CMC), the senior enlisted leader assigned to the command, reports directly to the commanding officer. The CMC creates and implements policies regarding morale, welfare, job satisfaction, discipline and training of Blue Angels enlisted personnel.
The Maintenance Master Chief (MMC) assists the Maintenance Officer in the maintenance and training requirements for the maintenance team.
The Chief Petty Officers and Gunnery Sergeants are senior enlisted Blue Angels responsible for supervising the efforts of the Blue Angels support team. Their experience and knowledge ensures the successful day-to-day operations of the squadron.
Administration maintains instructions and notices, handles promotions and awards, and controls legal and security concerns.
Airframes is manned by nine maintenance technicians in the aviation maintenance hydraulics and structure ratings. This shop maintains landing, arresting and catapult gear, flight control, hydraulic systems and composite/sheet metal structural repair of the Boeing F/A-18 Hornets. During the air show season, an airframes representative accompanies the C-130 crew as a safety observer during Jet Assisted Take Offs (JATO).
The Aviation Medicine team performs annual physical examinations and emergency medical procedures, keeps medical and dental readiness up to date, and acts as a liaison for advanced medical care.
Avionics is manned by nine maintenance technicians in the aviation electronics technician and aviation electrician's mate ratings. This work center is responsible for the performance of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and timely troubleshooting of F/A-18 and C-130 electronic flight controls, communication, navigation, radar, mission computers, digital and analog systems and fuel quantity.
The Crew Chiefs work center is manned by fifteen maintenance technicians in various aviation ratings of both the Navy and Marine Corps. Two crew chiefs are assigned to each pilot, and they are responsible for performing engine turn-up operation and flight controls/instruments check as well as daily, turn-around and pre-flight inspections of the aircraft and its systems. Once assigned to a pilot, there are responsible for the set-up of the cockpit, the pilot's survival equipment and the overall appearance of the aircraft.
The Events Coordinator Department schedules preseason visits with show site sponsors and secures accommodations and ground support for each demonstration show.
Fat Albert Airlines: The all-Marine flight crew assigned to the squadron's C-130 Hercules transport is responsible for transporting road-crew personnel, supplies and equipment to and from each show site throughout the season.
Logistics researches, procures, stores, and issues spare parts, tools, and uniforms. Logistics also researches future squadron needs and initiates contracts for services required to support daily operations.
Power Plants is comprised of maintenance technicians responsible for maintaining, servicing, adjusting and replacing aircraft engines and accessories, fuel systems and their accessories and the smoke system for Blue Angels aircraft. They also maintain the secondary power system of the F/A-18, which allows the aircraft to be started anywhere without external power.
The Public Affairs Office writes, photographs, edits, publishes and distributes all promotional materials. The Public Affairs Office also coordinates coverage and interviews with local, national and international media and oversees the team's community relations program.
Quality Assurance is comprised of six maintenance technocracies in various aviation ratings. The office prepares and assists in the preparation of maintenance instructions, reviews incoming technical directives and participates as members of the technical task force that investigates trouble areas and recommends corrective actions. Quality Assurance provides technical assistance to quality control inspectors and maintenance production personnel in the completion of aircraft maintenance, and regularly completes audits on work centers and specific maintenance programs.
Whenever you have an object that weighs over 40,000 lbs. you are going to need some heavy equipment to move it, fuel it and keep it safe to fly. Here are just a few vehicles that the maintenance squadron use to keep all six jets in the air. To the far right is the sound cart. Not only does it provide sound to each shows sound system it provides vital communication between the pilots and ground crew as well as typically indicates show center for the pilots.
Before most spectators get onto the field the maintenance staff is hard at work making sure that everything is ready to go for that days performance. This includes checking all control surfaces, instrument gauges and life support. In addition before each performance the aircraft is cleaned like no other aircraft in the world.
When it is performance time all the Blues take the field. The pilots march down to their aircraft and the maintenance personnel and crew chiefs prepare and inspect the aircraft one more time.
Once the Blues take to the runway the maintenance crews prepare for their return.
When ever the Blues take to the air, be it a practice or full show their video personnel are on hand to record all aspects of the show. This information is used for the debrief and for future media needs.
While the six demo pilots are in the air, a lot of additional activities are going on. At the sound cart constant communication is occurring with the pilots and the announcers are busy relaying information to the crowds.
After all is said and done the Officers always make time to sign autographs for all their fans.
It is now time to celebrate and reflect on the 2003 Air Show season. GREAT JOB GUYS AND GALS!!!!
