Bird Doctors

101st Combat Aviation Brigade

Story by Spc. Tracy Weeden

FORWARD OPERATING BASE TARIN KOWT, Afghanistan -- When helicopters are needed within a moment's notice, it is the mechanics of these fine birds who are responsible for their readiness, just as our flight surgeon is responsible for us.

The aircraft maintainers of Task Force No Mercy, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, work tirelessly around the clock to make sure aircraft are available for upcoming missions.

Helicopter maintenance is a 24-hour operation.

Maintaining helicopters in Afghanistan requires additional maintenance and care compared to Fort Campbell, Ky.

Preventative maintenance for the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters in Afghanistan requires parts to be lubricated every ten flight-hours here, as opposed to every 40 flight- hours back in the states, said Pfc. Emmanuel Carter, TF No Mercy Blackhawk mechanic.

Preventative maintenance is possibly the most important role of these mechanics.

"As long as we keep up with preventative maintenance, we won't run into many issues," said Carter.

Different helicopters require different preventative maintenance schedules.

The Blackhawks will receive a major mechanical inspection every 120 flight-hours, said Carter. "All the way from the nose of the aircraft to the tail."

Although this is a key aspect of their job, they also run into instances where a helicopter needs something specific repaired.

"Typically once the aircraft has had so many flight-hours, something will have to be cleaned or replaced," said Carter.

If a part needs to be replaced due to a malfunction, the pilot is notified by an internal system which alerts them of electronic or mechanical errors.

The system tells them a general area of the malfunction, and then they will troubleshoot to find out the specific problem, said Staff Sgt. Terrence Vaughn, TF No Mercy Blackhawk maintenance supervisor.

The remote location of TF No Mercy causes the only problem these mechanics have no control over.

One thing that slows them down is when they have to order parts they do not have here; it could take up to a week to be delivered, said Vaughn.

When the maintenance team needs parts, it is the tech supply office that orders and tracks the supply orders.

Not all the aircraft TF No Mercy pilots fly were brought from Fort Campbell. We acquired helicopters from the previous unit, said Carter.

"The birds [aircraft] that have been out here for a while tend to need more TLC," said Carter.

The AH-64 Apache helicopters require a different type of maintenance since they are a heavily armed aircraft.

They have several different weapons systems consisting of the hellfire missiles, 2.75" rocket and 30 mm machine gun which these Soldiers are responsible for configuring and loading, said Sgt. 1st Class Peter Drake, TF No Mercy Apache armament platoon sergeant.

The Apache armament, avionics and electrical systems repair team is responsible for arming the aircraft as well as maintaining all electrical systems throughout the Apache.

The rocket and missile system locations can be interchanged depending on the needs of the mission, said Drake.

Different technology is used for each weapon system on the Apache which requires electrical systems maintenance.

"The Target Acquisition Detection system is very labor intensive," said Drake. "This is what the pilot looks through when acquiring a target with the 30 mm machine gun."

Because of their complex systems, the Apaches require a lot of work.

"The Apache is like a flying computer," said Drake. Pretty much every part of this aircraft has a wire or electrical signal running to it.

This platoon is working continually to ensure the electrical systems on the Apaches are functioning properly.

These Soldiers work 12-hour shifts, rather than the eight hours they are used to, because of the tremendous work load here, said Drake.

The Apaches require several different maintenance inspections.

"There are mandatory 125, 250, and 500-flight-hour inspections," said Drake. "The 500-flight-hour inspection is the major one though."

During the 500- flight-hour inspection, the Apache is practically stripped down and rebuilt.

The flight-hours must be monitored and evenly distributed throughout the Apaches to allow this type of thorough maintenance.

Apaches fly an average of 130 flight-hours per week, said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Stephen Spicer, TF No Mercy production control officer.

"The more they fly, the easier they are to maintain," said Drake.

The armament platoon also mans the forward armament refueling point, where aircraft land to refuel and re-arm their weapons systems, while the Apache pilots are out on missions.

Civilians are contracted to refuel the aircraft on Tarin Kowt, but the armament platoon is responsible for arming the mission, said Drake.

The Apache is a very intricate piece of machinery. Soldiers are armed with interactive electronic tactical manuals to help them with their highly complicated job.

They learn a lot from experience, but the IETM helps guide them through any task at hand, said Pfc. Jason Garlow, Apache armament, avionics and electrical systems repairer.

Both the Blackhawk and Apache mechanics use their leaders as mentors and guides.

"The team we have is really good," said Carter. "We have some experienced maintainers who are there to coach the newer Soldiers if there is ever a question or concern."

Even though Vaughn has a lot of confidence in his mechanics, he still double-checks their work to ensure the pilot's safety.

"Once the maintenance is done, I ensure it is done properly and safely," said Vaughn. "I also keep a historical record of each aircraft."

The helicopter mechanics contribute greatly to the readiness and speed of TF No Mercy.

In the end, the pilots and crew chiefs can be confident their aircraft is in top-notch condition and always ready for the next mission at hand.