MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- When an aircraft logs a certain amount of flight hours, it’s routine procedure for that aircraft to go through an intermediate maintenance availability period. This type of evolution involves making sure components such as wiring, hydraulic lines and other vital components are operating at Air Force aviation standards.
Recently, a UH-1N Huey helicopter belonging to the 40th Helicopter Squadron conducted 400 flight hours. After accomplishing the feat, the aircraft travels to the hangar for four weeks where it will undergo 4-6 weeks of scheduled “down time,” or the time a helicopter is grounded from flying due to a maintenance period followed by an inspection.
M1 Support Services is a company contracted to provide helicopter maintenance to the 40th HS. The team of aircraft mechanics maintain, upgrade and inspect the helicopters in support of 341st Missile Wing’s nuclear deterrence mission.
“We work on the aircraft to ensure the guys in the 40th have safe flights,” said retired Master Sgt. Bob Berg, M1 Support Services aircraft mechanic for the 40th HS.
In M1’s intermediate level maintenance shop, the aircraft mechanics are able to fabricate their own components with a fully equipped machine shop. This is necessary if a component is discovered damaged or in need of repair during the inspection.
“There are instances when certain equipment has to be dismantled to facilitate other maintenance,” said Berg. “In this case, the floor paneling on the aircraft had to be replaced when it was found that it wasn’t in the right condition.”
The Montana native says that replacing the floor paneling was an all-day evolution, but that’s how Berg prefers it.
“As long as the guys in the 40th are flying their helicopters, the aircraft will be in constant rotation through our hangar for a phase maintenance period, and it keeps me busy,” said Berg. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”