Phase maintenance crucial to chopper successes

Photo By Master Sgt. Nathan Hutchison | During phase maintenance, the Ch-47 Chinook gets dismantled and thoroughly checked for mechanical and structural deficiencies. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathan W. Hutchison)  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

04.20.2007

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

By Army Spc. Nathan W. Hutchison
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - They are one of the most valuable assets the Army has at its disposal, with the ability to unleash fury, carry cargo, rescue vehicles and troops and reach its target faster than any other Army helicopter.

With such an important role in mission completion, it is vital that CH-47 Chinooks are maintained and inspected regularly to ensure mechanical and structural integrity.

After every 200 and 400 hours of operation, the Chinooks are passed to L3 Vertex, an aircraft maintenance contract company, for a 200 or 400 hour phase maintenance.

"We basically strip the aircraft down, do the inspections and maintenance and put it back together," said Michael E. Fleming, L3 Vertex mechanic.

Boeing and the Army put together maintenance plans based on hours of aircraft operation, and hours accumulate quickly with so many missions taking place, said Fleming.

The L3 phase teams consist of mechanics, sheet metal workers, engineers, electricians and other aircraft technicians.

"The crew bring the aircraft to us," said Fleming, "A couple of them will stay with it, but it's mostly us working on the aircraft for these phases."

A couple of crewmembers will stay with the aircraft during its phase maintenance, working on some of the cosmetic maintenance, but are mainly there because of familiarity on the specific aircraft, said Army Staff Sgt. Edward J. Barham, a crew chief with Company A, 7th Battalion, 158th Regiment, a National Guard unit based at Fort Hood, Texas.

"What we try to do is make the L3 guys' job as easy as possible," said Barham. "We'll track parts that are on order and get the parts, but the phase maintenance is their job: their baby."

Chinook crewmembers conduct daily inspections and maintenance that is logged and handed over to the phase team for their maintenance, said Barham.

Some of phase team's members have been in Afghanistan four years, and are experienced Chinook mechanics and technicians, said Sgt. James J. Reeves, also a crew chief from Company A, 7th Battalion, 158th Regiment out of Fort Eustis, Va.

"The last thing we want to do is be a monkey wrench and get inside their works," Reeves said.

Once the aircraft is dropped off, it takes the L3 team about 12 days to do the 200 hour phase maintenance and as few as 21 days for the 400 hour phase maintenance, said Fleming.

"They've got this system down," said Reeves, "They're a real great service to the war-fighting effort that goes on here."

• Date Taken: 04.20.2007
• Date Posted: 04.20.2007 12:51
• Story ID: 10031
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF