Meet a otor


Pro RPMN: What is your current position?


I’m co-founder and vice president of Night Flight Concepts, and an FAA repair station accountable manager.


RPMN: Tell me about your first flight or experience with helicopters.


I was an enlisted specialist, E-4, in the U.S. Army as a medium lift helicopter mechanic on CH-47Ds. It was 1994, while assigned to Bravo Company (Varsity) 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Brigade out of Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, when I was selected above my peers to go to a flight crew member board consisting of our unit flight standards and flight platoon sergeants. After being accepted, I was assigned to the 1st flight platoon, designated a crew chief, and taken on my first flight around the military reservation on a routine training flight. At the time, it was the most electrifying experience I had in my life. The combination of perilousness, adventure, excitement, and risk all at once changed my life forever. I was hooked.


RPMN: When and how did you choose to fly or work on helicopters? Or did they choose you?


Well I was at my military entrance processing station (MEPS) in Syracuse, New York, where I enlisted in the Army.


12 Jan/Feb 2021 David Luke


I had scored pretty well on my entry exams apparently, so I had hundreds of military occupational specialties (MOS) options and had no idea what I wanted to do. I had not thought that far ahead. It was very stressful because I was about to click on a screen and select what my life career path was going to be. Those MOS positions were dwindling as they were being filled by others enlisting all over the country. A staff sergeant, E-6, walked into the room and said if you want to have the coolest job in the Army you need to be a CH-47 helicopter mechanic, which will allow you the opportunity to become a flight crew member if you gain enough knowledge and show enough responsibility and discipline. (He was apparently a CH-47 flight crew member on a 3-year recruiting duty). I was like, well, that sounds perfect and after selecting that MOS my helicopter story began.


RPMN: Where did you get your start flying or maintaining professionally?


After completing basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, I went directly to Ft. Eustis, Virginia, where I began advanced individual training (AIT) as a 67U medium lift helicopter mechanic. After completing months of maintenance training, I was assigned my first unit duty station: B Co., 7th/101st Aviation at Ft. Campbell.


RPMN: If you were not in the helicopter industry, what else would you see yourself doing?


That is a question I’ve asked myself numerous times over the years and honestly I do not have a solid answer. I have spent the last 27 years in the helicopter/aviation industry, and it is hard to think of doing anything outside of that in some form or fashion.


RPMN: What do you enjoy doing on your days off?


I’m an avid hunter, preferably with a bow, so any free time (if that existed) would be doing that. I also enjoy fishing, hiking, and introducing my kids to those activities.


RPMN: What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?


Wow, that’s another impossible one- answer question. If I break it down into two parts of my career, meaning military and post-military, it will be much easier. As an enlisted flight crew member in the Army, I looked up to and admired the senior enlisted flight standards instructors (SI) because they had the most knowledge and experience in the unit, which is why they were selected. My goal was to get to that position and be able to teach others, evaluate, and maintain performance standards. After many years and a few


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