Smooth operators
By Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston, 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
/ Published February 23, 2007
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Eighteen individuals make up the fine-tuned helicopter maintenance team at Malmstrom.
This team is responsible for making sure the seven helicopters assigned to the 40th Helicopter Squadron are in top condition and ready to fly at all times.
A typical day in the helicopter hangar for the maintainers includes pre-flight inspection, towing the helicopter to the flight line, refueling, putting proper fuel loads in the aircraft, then, after helicopters return, a post-flight inspection. Pre- and post-flight inspections consist of general safety procedures. The aircraft is thoroughly checked to make sure everything is serviceable and safe, before and after each flight.
Along with daily maintenance, the helicopter maintainers' routine varies depending on security requirements, missile movements and weather conditions, as well as weekly training such as night-vision goggle training and search-and-rescue training.
Additionally, every 400 flying hours, the maintenance crew tears down the helicopter and changes elements that are only used for a certain number of flying hours. As the aircraft gets torn down, the helicopter gets inspected very thoroughly, said Capt. Darren Tabor, 341st Maintenance Group helicopter functional commander.
Four helicopters must be fully mission-capable every day, a task the helicopter maintainers have no problem keeping up with.
"It's always a smooth operation," said Keith Blades, contract office representative, 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron. "They do a good job of keeping the helicopters fully mission-capable and exceed the contract minimum of four each day."
"The Air Force has been really good about keeping us self sufficient and providing the proper tools for the job," said Dick Aspinwall, helicopter maintenance team chief. "Doing routine maintenance helps keep all the aircraft up-to-date between the 400 flying hour mark."
Several of Malmstrom's current helicopter maintainers have been a part of the unit since 1988, when a civilian contract was established with Doss Aviation.
"Doss Aviation does a fabulous job of maintaining helicopters," Mr. Blades said. "Since some of our maintainers have been here for 19 years, we have a lot of people who know what they're doing - it's like a shop full of senior non-commissioned officers."
Of course, like all jobs, helicopter maintenance has its ups and downs.
"The best part of this job is the knowledge that the aircraft are very reliable," Capt. Tabor said. "These helicopters are very old, but very reliable."
"The worst part is probably the flexible flying schedule," Captain Tabor said. "The missile mission requires a lot of flexibility in scheduling due to weather and security changes. It's the most difficult but it's what the mission is."
"It's hard to figure out the worst part of such a great job," Mr. Blades added. "Compared to other aircraft, the helicopters here are great to work on and the operations here work like a fine, oiled machine."