Preparing a fighter jet is a precise and demanding process that starts the moment the wheels touch the runway.
By Hezy Laing
The Israeli Air Force’s pilots may be the ones discussed by the media, but every mission begins and ends with the ground crews who keep the aircraft ready to fly.
These teams work in a continuous cycle of inspection, repair, refueling, and rearming that allows jets to launch again within tight operational windows.
Preparing a fighter jet is a precise and demanding process that starts the moment the wheels touch the runway.
Technicians swarm the aircraft to check the airframe, examine avionics, test hydraulic systems, and ensure every sensor and weapon interface is functioning correctly.
Refueling crews move in next, followed by weapons specialists who load the munitions required for the aircraft’s next mission profile.
Depending on the aircraft type and the complexity of the mission, a full turnaround can take anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours, with safety checks built into every stage.
A single fighter jet typically relies on ten to twenty ground crew members, each trained in a specific discipline such as engines, electronics, armaments, or flight safety.
Their coordination is what allows the IAF to maintain a high sortie rate, especially during wartime when jets may launch multiple times a day.
The current conflict has pushed these crews to work longer and harder than at any point in recent years, with many serving extended shifts that stretch deep into the night.
Despite fatigue, the crews must maintain absolute precision, since even a small oversight can compromise a mission or endanger a pilot.
Commanders emphasize that safety standards cannot slip, and teams rotate tasks to manage the physical and mental strain of the increased tempo.
One of the most significant developments has been the integration of new ultra‑orthodox recruits into ground support roles, a program designed to meet religious requirements while expanding the IAF’s manpower.
These recruits have joined maintenance and logistics units, helping absorb the surge in workload and allowing veteran crews to sustain the demanding operational pace.
Their presence has strengthened the IAF’s ability to keep aircraft in the air during a period of intense activity.
Though rarely seen by the public, the ground crews’ expertise and endurance are essential to every mission, ensuring that Israeli jets can launch, strike, and return safely.
