Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Spc. Paul C. Sale, of Jefferson City, Mo., an aircraft structural repairer...... read more read more
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – From bullet holes to electronic malfunctions, when helicopters need repair beyond the capabilities of forward line units, it’s the soldiers of B Company, Task Force Mountain Eagle, who keep the birds in the fight.
Soldiers of B Company, 277th Aviation Support Battalion, TF Mountain Eagle, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade 10th Mountain Division, TF Falcon, or “Hangar Rats” as they call themselves, specialize in helicopter maintenance and repair. The unit works on a diverse set of aircraft including the CH-47 Chinook, UH-60 Blackhawk, AH-64 Apache and the OH-58 Kiowa. Most of the repairs require specialized skills, tools and facilities. It is these specialties that set B Company apart from other units in Regional Command-East.
“We have a three-bay facility each with its own 10-ton overhead crane,” said U.S. Army Spc. James B. Henderson, of Azle, Texas, a Chinook repairer with B Company. “Everything here is much better, because we are the main hub for aviation in Afghanistan.”
Much like any mechanical work, there are multiple echelons of available service when a helicopter breaks. When something goes wrong, the first line of assistance are the “line” units located at the forward operating bases. Sometimes these problems can be solved at their level.
The soldiers of B Company are the final stop for helicopter issues in Afghanistan. As a last resort, parts can be shipped to the United States for servicing. This kind of servicing, however, is the final and most expensive level of care for problems on helicopters.
Most problems that occur on the aircraft can be serviced in the company’s shops. They can fabricate new parts when older ones break. When a helicopter is shot, they can patch it. They can fix dents, remove scratches, repair broken parts, and fix many electronic malfunctions.
Since their arrival in Afghanistan last October, the company completed more than 4,600 work orders and expects that number to be well over 6,000 by the time they redeploy in October.
Work orders are rarely a single fix. The work orders that come to the shop usually consist of several parts, which often include a full breakdown of the helicopter. For instance, routine maintenance, or “phasing” of the aircraft is considered one work order, but can take anywhere from one to three weeks.
Phasing is a full overhaul on the aircraft. No part is left uninspected, ensuring the aircraft will be mechanically sound until its next scheduled maintenance period.
These lengthy inspections are vital to the ongoing efforts in Afghanistan. With so much need throughout Afghanistan for aviation support, units cannot afford to have a chopper go down for a mechanical problem that could have been avoided. The team phased 17 Chinooks and Blackhawks since their arrival and shows no signs of slowing.
In addition, the unit sends soldiers to FOBs to assist line units when needed. These groups, known as maintenance contact teams, assemble and forward deploy to places where their skill sets can help to solve problems at an even lower level.
The company also sends soldiers to forward arming and refueling points. The troops support nine FARPs throughout RC-East and help refuel helicopters as well as reload them with ammunition. Soldiers at the FARPs loaded more than 11,000 rounds of ball-type ammunition.
“Afghanistan is a very hostile environment and the possibility for damage is great,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Douglas E. Walters, an aviation technician with B Company, of Jacksonville, Fla. “We’re saving the Army hundreds of millions of dollars by repairing components of the aircraft here and returning them expeditiously to the fight.”
The skills, teamwork, and dedication to ongoing contingency operations in Afghanistan truly set the Hangar Rats of the 277th ASB apart in Afghanistan. The attention to detail these soldiers provide on a daily basis is keeping helicopters safe and effective for service members in the air and on the ground.
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2011 14:16 |
| Story ID: | 72185 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 454 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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