Ensuring a clean, safe flight line Published July 24, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Alex Echols 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force assets fly in and out of Tyndall every day, and the entry and exit point for these aircrafts is the vital strip of pavement known as the flight line. It is the job of the Airmen at the 325th Operations Support Squadron Airfield Management Flight to maintain a clean, safe and properly configured flight line. A single piece of foreign object debris, FOD, on the flight line could be enough bring down a jet causing massive damage and life loss. "It's my duty to do everything I can to make sure the mission goes on without any mistakes on my end," said Airman 1st Class Stephen Welton, 325th OSS operations coordinator. "These are multi-million dollar aircrafts, and we are responsible for making sure that the runway is safe for landing and takeoff." Welton is one of 15 Airmen in the Airfield Management Flight and has been at Tyndall eight months now. "Welton has a lot of pride in his work," said Staff Sgt. Samantha Pienta, 325th OSS Airfield Management operations supervisor. "I can leave the office and go manage the airfield knowing that everything is going to get done properly." Each day Airfield Management opens the airfield, which includes an initial flight line inspection, a FOD check, ensuring the barriers are configured correctly and notifying the tower and other agency that flying is ready to begin. The unit also files the flight plans for any aircrafts arriving or leaving the base and sends out advisories for restricted airspace and closed flight line areas. "I love my job and my shop we have great Airmen working here with great leadership leading the way," said Welton. "We take pride in what we do, and we do it to the best of our ability." The Airfield Management Flight is just one of many 325th OSS teams that make the flying mission at Tyndall safe and efficient.