555th surge operations

Published April 24, 2024
By Senior Airman Noah Sudolcan
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --

The 555th Fighter and Fighter Generation Squadron conducted surge operations April 8-11, 2024.

A surge is a high operational tempo where flying is increased to 150% showcasing the unit’s readiness and ability to perform swiftly and efficiently. The four day event averaged 46 sorties a day and ended in 184 successful flights accumulating 176.8 hours of flight. This is the largest display of a surge that Aviano has on recorded history.

“We fulfilled every line that we could,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Christophe Mateo, 555th Fighter Generation Squadron director of operations. “From the ops and maintenance standpoint, every line was executed.”

An Italian air force Eurofighter Typhoon assigned to the 51st Wing at Istrana Air Base, Italy, lands during a defensive counter-air training. — An Italian air force Eurofighter Typhoon assigned to the 51st Wing at Istrana Air Base, Italy, lands during a defensive counter-air training at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 31, 2024. The 555th Fighter Squadron and the 51st Wing completed DCA training over the Adriatic Sea. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Bartoszek)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Blaze Winter, 555th Fighter Generation Squadron weapons load crew member, performs a post-flight inspection during a defensive-counter air training. — U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Blaze Winter, 555th Fighter Generation Squadron weapons load crew member, performs a post-flight inspection during a defensive-counter air training at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Jan. 31, 2024. The 555th Fighter Squadron and the 51st Wing from Istrana Air Base completed defense counter air training over the Adriatic Sea. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Bartoszek)

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Issac Garcia, 510th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, performs preflight inspections on an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a flight with Maj. Gen. Thomas E. Kunkel, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force commander, inside. — U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Issac Garcia, 510th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, performs preflight inspections on an F-16 Fighting Falcon for a flight with Maj. Gen. Thomas E. Kunkel, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force commander, inside at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Aug. 17, 2023. Kunkel’s visit was significant to Aviano because he was one of the rescue pilots that saved the life of retired Gen. David L. Goldfein, when he was a lieutenant colonel and commander of the 555th Fighter Squadron, after his F-16 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over Serbia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Synsere Howard)

The surge is also a way to strengthen and create relationships across various career fields: schedulers, pilots, maintainers, production and lead superintendent and even the flight commander.

This event also allows the unit time to reconstitute the fleet. This gives time to ensure they can provide combat airpower to U.S. and NATO Combatant Commanders as well as the National Command Authority in order to meet National Security objectives.

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron, taxis the runway during exercise Emerald Strike 2023 at Grosseto Air Base, Italy, Jan. 27, 2023. Emerald Strike allows United States forces to integrate and operate with Italian Air Forces to enhance their professional relationship and improves overall coordination. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Noah Sudolcan)

“In the end, it's the Airmen on the line turning the wrenches,” said Mateo. “Everyone was giving 100% for those four days.”