Maintainers keep Apaches at the tip of the spear

Photo By Capt. Adan Cazarez | Sgt. 1st Class Francisco Rincon, platoon sergeant, Charlie Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, conducts a final inspection of an AH-64 Apache tail rotor before pilots conduct their pre-flight inspection, Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan, Oct. 12. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Adan Cazarez/82nd Combat Aviation Brigade PAO)  

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

11.02.2014

Story by Capt. Adan Cazarez 

82nd Combat Aviation Brigade

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – As the AH-64 Apache helicopters of 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, “Task Force Wolfpack,” 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, continue their operational tempo to support the friendly forces on the ground, behind the scenes are the maintainers that keep these Apaches at the tip of the spear.

These maintainers run two 12-hour-shifts in order to keep aircraft fully mission capable to support International Security Assistance Forces at Forward Operating Base Fenty.

Sgt. Justin Keller, an AH-64 attack helicopter repairer with Charlie Company, 1st ARB, is currently serving on his first deployment and explained the importance of maintenance.

“We spend long hours to ensure that we fix any issues that we find,” said Keller. “It’s important that we find the smallest problems before they become major issues that can result in damage to the aircraft or harm to the crew.”

In order to keep an aircraft fully mission capable, major inspections are conducted regularly.

“We conduct preventive maintenance daily,” said Keller. “Pilots also conduct their own pre-flight and post-flight inspections as well.”
Maintenance is something that is never overlooked, Keller explained.
“Aircraft are rigorously going through some type of maintenance service at any given time,” said Keller. “Preventive maintenance services are conducted on each aircraft that reaches 25 hours of flight time or every 14 days, whichever comes first.”

“Given the region in which we’re operating and the amount of flight hours our birds fly, we do the 25-hour PMS,” said Keller.

Another essential maintainer that ensures Apaches are able to sustain their fire power are the armament and electrical maintainers.
Pfc. Marcellus Lassiter, an armament/electrical/avionic-systems repairer serving with Delta Company, 1st ARB, on his first deployment accounted his experience thus far.

“Each day is a different challenge, we just don’t know what to expect,” said Lassiter. “We might be working on one section of the electrical system and suddenly that leads us to another problem.”
Finding and fixing these problems has been beneficial to Lassiter.
“Being here has taught me a lot, I’m learning something new each day,” said Lassiter. “I take pride in my job, knowing that without us pilots can’t do their job.”

Sgt. 1st Class Francisco Rincon, a platoon sergeant with Charlie Company, 1st ARB, has served multiple deployments as an AH-64 attack helicopter repairer.

“Once our maintainers have completed repairs, it’s the responsibility of noncommissioned officers and crew chiefs to conduct a full maintenance walkthrough on each aircraft,” said Rincon. “It’s important for redundancy in our line of work, ensuring our aircraft are always ready to fly.”

Not only do the maintainers of 1st ARB contribute to the success of TF Wolfpack’s operations, but they have also made a positive impact.

Capt. Stephen Bota, the commander of Charlie Company, 1st ARB, explained the importance his maintainers contribute to his organization.

“Even through the high tempo of operations, our maintainers have adapted very well,” said Bota. “They have had a tremendous positive impact to the overall mission here.”

“Without their support our aircraft couldn’t complete the mission we were sent here to do,” said Bota.

• Date Taken: 11.02.2014
• Date Posted: 11.03.2014 09:39
• Story ID: 146834
• Location: NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AF