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The devil's in the details, especially when lives are at stake. SSgt. Zach Lopez introduces us to an airman who goes beyond details that can't be seen with the naked eye.SUGGESTED TAG:WEAR, TEAR AND FATIGUE OCCURS IN METALS WITHOUT VISIBLE SIGNS.REPORTER:MANY UNSEEN PRECAUTIONS OCCUR BEHIND THE SCENES OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE… PARTS REQUIRING MAINTENANCE MUST GO THROUGH A COUPLE MIDDLE MEN BEFORE THEY’RE ACTUALLY SERVICED, SUCH AS SSGT SHARIF ABOUOMAR, A NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION TECHNICIAN.SSGT ABOUOMAR:EVEN THOUGH WE ARE THE MIDDLE MAN, WE ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE FACT IS WE CAN SHOW WHAT IS THERE THAT YOU CAN’T SEE. WE FIND THOSE DEFECTS THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN’T FIND. I MEAN YOU CAN ONLY SEE SO MUCH WITH THE NAKED EYE, BUT WHEN YOU APPLY THE SPECIAL METHODS THAT WE HAVE WE CAN SEE MUCH FURTHER THAN JUST THAT.REPORTER:A LOT OF MONEY, AND A LOT OF LIVES ARE AT STAKE WHEN IT COMES TO AN AIRCRAFT PART BEING DEEMED SAFE. THESE THOROUGH INSPECTIONS CATCH SOMETIMES UNSEEN PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME ISSUES.SSGT ABOUOMAR:THERE’S A LOT OF PRESSURE SO WE HAVE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL AND THAT JUDGMENT CALL PRESSES MAINTENANCE, ENFORCES PRODUCTIVITY AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND THAT’S WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE DOINGSSGT ABOUOMAR:WHAT IT’LL DO IS, IT’LL GET INTO A CRACK AND IT’LL KEEP BLEEDING OUT OF THE CRACK, EXPANDING. SO, WE NEED THIS IN ORDER FOR US TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING ON.SSGT ABOUOMAR:WE COULD NOT SUSTAIN A FIGHT IF WE DID NOT HAVE OUR CAREER FIELD BECAUSE WE SEE THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON’T SEE.SSGT ABOUOMAR:MOST PROUD OF… UH, I WOULD SAY THE LIVES THAT I’VE SAVED FROM THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IT’S THE LIVES THAT WE’VE SAVED, ABOVE ALL ELSE.REPORTER:AND THE “BEHIND THE SCENES” NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION SHOP WILL CONTINUE TO SAVE LIVES ONE AIRCRAFT PART AT A TIME. SSGT ZACH LOPEZ, KUNSAN AIR BASE, KOREA.# # #
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Kunsan Air BaseNon-destructive InspectionAFN PacificSSGT ZACH LOPEZAIr ForceKorea.
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