MAINTENANCE MINUTE By Mark Tyler KNOW YOUR MISSION
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene was beginning to churn and stir in the Gulf of Mexico. Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region near Perry, Florida, as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds and 15-foot storm surge. Over the next couple of days, she made her way through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and into the mountains of western North Carolina (WNC) where extensive rains caused massive flooding.
Entire towns were decimated by landslides caused by massive swells of water in rivers and creeks, not to mention all the highways, bridges and homes that were taken out in the process. It is possible that it could take a decade or more to recover from the debris, death and destruction.
Almost immediately after the clouds parted, civilian helicopters began to pour into the area to rescue people and deliver supplies. With the increased helicopter traffic, these guys organized and set up a communication and operations network to stay safe. The operators would fly all day and would stop only to eat, rest, and refuel. Several of our customers flew missions under the watchful eye of Operation Air Drop. This organization reported on its social media page that over 200 rotorcraft missions were flown utilizing volunteer helicopter operators.
With increased flight hours comes increased maintenance, inspections, and repairs. Our customers began showing up for maintenance within a couple of weeks. Not one suggested or implied to hurry up and finish the work, but we knew what was at stake. My real concern, because the missions were so critical, was that our mechanics might put pressure on themselves to rush
the job. Mechanics and team leaders met daily and emphasized the difference between being expedient and being rushed. The mission is to complete maintenance inspections in the most efficient way possible — the right way — by always staying legal and keeping safety a priority. The best way to accomplish this is to have a plan, work by the plan, and always maintain focus.
Freddie Briggs is co-owner and chief pilot of Tier-1 Helicopters in Hampton, Georgia. Tier-1 Helicopters was among the first to show up in WNC, bringing over 1,500 pounds of supplies from Georgia and eventually evacuating 68 people from Mitchell House Nursing Home. When interviewed, Freddie said it best when he stated that the numbers represented people, and people were what mattered. He went on to thank the mechanics who kept him in the air.
In our role as aircraft mechanics, we should always remember that someone is depending on us to do our job correctly. Whether the mission is rescue, transporting the sick and injured, chasing bad guys, or flying to attend a meeting or a family vacation, it is incumbent upon us to maintain focus, work efficiently, do the job right, do the job safely, and stay legal. That is our mission; by completing our mission, others can complete their missions – and by doing so lives are saved, bad guys are caught, and we all go home at the end of the day.
About the author: Mark Tyler dedicated the majority of his career to serving the helicopter EMS community, from base mechanic to director of maintenance. As vice president and general manager of Precision Aircraft Services, Tyler now serves helicopter operators from many sectors, including air ambulance, law enforcement, private owners, etc. When not at work, he can be found spending time with his family or sitting in a tree stand.
22 Nov/Dec 2024
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