Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Two Mechanics with D Company, 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat...... read more read more
Helicopters play a major role in the military's mission, providing security, transporting troops, and conducting reconnaissance surveillance and patrols from the sky.
In order to keep the aircraft running and the pilot flying to conduct the military's mission, mechanics are needed.
Aviation mechanics with the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade work day and night repairing and preparing helicopters for various missions.
"When we get an aircraft for inspection and maintenance, we fix everything that needs repaired or corrected, ensuring there is zero damage on that aircraft so when it goes out for its next mission it's going to be safe to fly," said Sgt. Derek Taylor, Company B, repair platoon, 563rd Aviation Support Battalion, 159th CAB.
Aircraft have to be structurally and operationally sound, said Spc. Michael Brown, shops platoon, 563rd ASB, 159th CAB. During their deployment, the 159th has provided high level maintenance quickly for each unit they are supporting.
The mechanics in the 159th CAB work on the OH-58 D Kiowa Warrior, the AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook, which are all used for general support, base and patrol security and to perform air assault missions.
"Our units are structured around an infantry based unit, which is what the Army is," Brown said. "Our aviation units are providing infantry support so the Army can accomplish its mission."
Aircraft are repaired based on scheduled maintenances. Different teams are given an aircraft for phase inspection and each troop is assigned an area to inspect and repair.
If a fault is found, then the mechanic repairs or replaces the item. If there is a problem with a major component, such as the engine, rotor or hydraulics system, then the component is passed off to the repair shop.
The repair shop specializes in repairing the major components of the aircraft. Unlike the repair platoon, who specializes in repairing a specific aircraft, the shops platoon has the ability to fix the engine or rotor blades on each aircraft.
When they receive the part, they completely break it down, repair it, and the repair platoon replaces the part in the helicopter.
Each component has a certain life span, so the shops team tries to avoid any major problems by replacing or repairing it prior to it going bad.
When faults are found within the communications system, the avionics platoon is needed to fix the problem.
Avionics deals with receivers and transmitters, channels and frequencies, and the Doppler Radar System.
The avionics objective is to ensure the communications systems are working proficiently so the pilots can go forth with the mission, said Spc. Elisha Harmon, avionics platoon, Co. B, 563rd ASB, 159th CAB.
When an aircraft reaches 150 to 200 flight hours, the entire aircraft is taken apart and repairs are made as needed.
The 159th CAB mechanics also deal with unscheduled maintenance, where an aircraft prior to or during a mission goes down.
They run 24-hour operations, so they can be on site immediately to address the situation.
It's an immediate repair, and anywhere from just a few minutes to few hours the aircraft is mission capable, said Brown.
"If they have a component fail once they're in the air, it could be a life or death situation," Brown said. "The aircraft is an immediate priority."
The aircraft gets fixed so they have the available air support needed to conduct various missions, he added.
When the aircraft is repaired, test flown and all fine-tune adjustments have been made, the aircraft is ready to fly and continue on its mission, said Brown.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2006 10:37 |
| Story ID: | 5594 |
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| Web Views: | 152 |
| Downloads: | 21 |
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