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Soldiers recover downed aircraft in combat zone
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Aircraft maintainers, with 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, can be called upon to find a downed aircraft at anytime or anywhere in Iraq.
These maintainers are part of a Downed Aircraft Recovery Team, a team comprised of five to eight Soldiers, who are sent to where the wrecked aircraft is and responsible for recovering it.
“Our job is to get the aircraft back here (to the hangar) safely,” said Sgt. Gilbert R. Santos, an AH-64D Apache helicopter maintainer, who has been repairing aircraft in the Army for 10 years.
There are two primary missions of a DART- intermediate and delayed missions. When an aircraft is inoperative, whether due to a mechanical failure or enemy contact, the flight crew immediately assesses the situation and radios for the appropriate help.
Soldiers answering the call are 4/3 ACR maintainers, some are UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter repairmen and others work on AH-64Ds. These Soldiers are assigned to DARTs depending on their expertise.
If an aircraft can be repaired onsite then it is an intermediate mission. However, if the aircraft is beyond repair then it is a delayed mission, which requires a DART to remove the helicopter out of the area and take it to a place to be repaired.
Santos, a San Antonio, Texas native, and the Soldier who supervises how the entire aircraft is rigged, said “I rig the aircraft the best way I see fit, whether it will be transported out of the area by an air asset or ground vehicle.”
An intermediate mission involves maintainers, who are part of the Aviation Unit Maintenance section, whereas the delayed mission calls for Soldiers who work in the Aviation Intermediate Maintenance section.
The 4/3 ACR is unique in that it has the ability to support itself from an aircraft maintenance perspective. The unit is equipped with aviation intermediate maintenance capability, which includes extensive and time consuming maintenance, and an aviation unit maintenance capability, both allow 4/3 ACR to be self sufficient and respond to DART missions in a timely manner.
Maintainers on both teams have a challenging mission and must work together. A downed aircraft does not happen often; however, teams routinely practice their recovery procedures. Soldiers with experience share their knowledge, review training manuals with maintainers and run them through recovery scenarios.
Santos has conducted more than 10 recovery missions in a combat theater throughout his three deployments to Iraq. During this deployment, he led a team of maintainers on 4/3 AVIM’s only recovery mission, which occurred Christmas Day.
“It was most of the Soldiers first time on a downed aircraft recovery mission,” said Santos, “Before leaving (for the mission), we practiced what we knew, did a dry run here at the hangar and hooked up an aircraft flawlessly.”
Santos said the DART arrived onsite and worked as a team to recover a Black Hawk in the most efficient and safe manner.
“The Soldiers listened, worked together and did what they had to do,” said Santos, “The mission was a success and probably one of the most memorable recovery missions I have been part of, being out there on Christmas.”
The infrequency of recovery missions is not the only challenging factor for DARTs.
“DART is not something you do every day,” said Spc. Christopher E. Kiser, a Black Hawk maintainer for seven years. “Getting all of the information, weather, condition of the aircraft and parts needed to fix it, terrain and security can also make a DART mission challenging,” said the Merritt Island, Fla. native.
Kiser is responsible for rigging the tail section of the aircraft. “It is great to go out there, get the bird out and see it carried off safely, said Kiser. “The feeling ‘I did this’ is always a good one.”
Another important role in preparing the aircraft to be removed is the Soldier, who is responsible for rigging the main rotor, the head, of the helicopter.
Pfc. Luis J. Rodriguez, a Black Hawk maintainer and in charge of rigging the main rotor on DART missions, said “I feel trusted, the aircraft is lifted by slings hooked to the main rotor, which supports the entire helicopter.”
The Colorado Springs, Colo. native said he will never forget the Christmas mission.
“We spent Christmas in a helicopter, eating …croissants and Meals, Ready to Eat,” said Rodriguez. “The Soldiers on the DART mesh really well and all work together to accomplish the task, it is a good crew and definitely made the mission better.”
Rodriguez also said when the DART returned from the mission at 2:00 am, the rest of his section greeted them with Christmas dinner, apple cider and eggnog. The section worked as a team and unloaded the aircraft together.
The 4/3 ACR will be redeploying, after a 15-month tour, to Ft. Hood, Texas, soon. The Soldiers’ spirits are high, and they are proud of their achievements in Iraq.
“I feel great knowing I got to do my job and help helicopters return to flight, which supports passengers moving safely throughout Iraq and gets others the equipment they need,” said Rodriguez.
Kiser said he values the Army training and experience of helping recover aircraft in a combat zone. “I am excited to return home, share my experience and knowledge with other Soldiers; train those who have never had the opportunity to recover a helicopter,” said Kiser.
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