Photo By Adrian Cadiz | Capt. Timothy Knodel, 76th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron pilot, prepares to start...... read more read more
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CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan -- Whenever a Fever mission is launched to a destination without ground maintenance capabilities, HC-130P crew chiefs are called upon to don their body armor and jump on board should the need for their expertise be required when the aircraft touches down.
"A lot of [forward operating bases] don't have maintenance support," said Tech. Sgt. Michael McCormick, 76th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit expeditor and crew chief.
Many of the locations pose a potential threat to personnel and aircraft alike. On those missions, crew chiefs need to be able to quickly identify the problem and get the aircraft airborne if there is a problem.
"Going on missions with the crew is important because if a plane is broken in a hostile area and you can't get it fixed, you might all be dead," McCormick said. "So, it's crucial to be able to respond to any problem when the plane lands. Getting it back in the air and to relative safety is huge."
There are locations, though, that do not present an immediate threat to the aircraft, crew or patients. In those circumstances, if the problem cannot be found, fixed so the plane can back here or if the supplies needed to get the plane safely airborne, a team will be formed and sent out to respond.
"If we can't fix it, we'll set up an [maintenance recovery team] to come out and fix it, bring the parts we need to fix it and bring it back here to get it fully repaired," said Tech. Sgt. Justin Morrison, 76th EAMU C-130 repair reclamation supervisor.
Being able to go on a mission enables the maintainers to see the impact of their hard work.
"For most maintainers, a plane comes in with some issues, they repair it and get it back in the air. Mission complete," said Senior Master Sgt. Max Rippel, 76th EAMU superintendent. "But for the ones who actually get to go on a mission, they are able to really see how keeping that plane in the air is important."
On flights where the mission is to pick up a critically wounded patient from the battlefield, the impact on the maintainers is a lasting one.
"They get to see what that plane goes out to do," Rippel said. "They come off the plane after seeing a Marine so bloody and banged up that all they can see is his blue eyes. It really leaves an impression on these guys and even though they were giving 100 percent to the mission, now they're going to give 200 percent."
For the crew chiefs, it's truly a case of seeing is believing.
"Going on these flights is good for us because we get to see the impact maintenance has," McCormick added. "If you only work the flightline, you don't see how keeping the plane flying really helps the mission. You're briefed on it but when you're able to go on a mission, you can see for yourself. You see the impact that this guy is going to live or die based on the crew's ability to get to him in time."
The importance of the rescue mission has been firmly established among the maintenance world because the effects of the mission when an aircraft is launched.
"Being so close to the mission, you realize the necessity for us being here," McCormick said. "It also shows you, without question, why rescue missions are important. This guy has got to get help or he won't make it. That's the reality of it. The chances of these guys making it are slim if we can't get medical care out to them."
For the rest of the maintainers who do not get to fly on the rescue missions, there is a regular briefing to show them how their efforts to keep the aging planes functioning keeps the Fever missions airborne. These briefing also help reinforce the mindset that without the maintainers, the rescue missions wouldn't fly hence proving the importance of the maintenance mission.
"We're focused on taking on core medical missions to best utilize our operations and maintenance crews," said Lt. Col. Michael Guischard, 76th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron detachment commander. "By weeding out the missions that are not critical, we are able to better respond to the critical. This saves not only unnecessary hours of flight time; it also saves on unnecessary wear and tear on our planes."
In the end, with every aircraft that is launched in response to a call for help, the maintenance crew remains proud that they play a part in caring for the wounded or recovering downed personnel.
"I think we've all lost people out here so it's on our mind whenever we launch or recover a bird," McCormick said. "As long as those calls come in, we'll make sure the aircrew has a plane that is safe and ready to go."
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.08.2011 04:16 |
| Story ID: | 71742 |
| Location: | CAMP BASTION, AF |
| Web Views: | 798 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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