Originally Posted by
Lima Juliet
The question is, do the GEs have a role whilst the aircraft is aloft?
On the E-3, the GEs get (or at least did when I was there) an aircraft safety course which qualifies them as Supernumerary Crew. This means that they do not require the same amount of briefing, and probably more important, crew escorts when flying with a crew on to a deployment. They can also operate the galley and the basic equipment such as light switches and of course, they know what to do and where to go in an emergency.