One Job, Multiple Roles ~ Crew chiefs ensure Blackhawks are ready for missions

U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Arther (left) and Spc. Dmitri Schronick, both crew chiefs with the Company A “Werewolves,” 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, perform a thorough inspection of the aircraft at the close of business. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dan Purcell

One Job, Multiple Roles

Crew chiefs work 24-hours-a-day to ensure Blackhawks are ready for missions.

By Sgt. Dan Purcell
122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Oct. 29, 2004 — What can be said for one, can probably be said for all, a love for flying keeps them going — 12-hour shifts (or more), 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week — providing critical transport and cover for the troops on the ground. Who are these iron men of the aviation corps? They are the crew chiefs of 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment.

They are the middlemen in the battle to keep the battalion’s Blawkhawks airborne. These soldiers help maintain the “birds,” facilitating the transport of troops, while covering down on the pilots.

Two such crew chiefs, Spc. Brandon Arther and Spc. Dmitri Schronick from the Company A “Werewolves, are at their best when skirting above the ground at 120 miles-an-hour and eyeing the ground below for potential threats.

“The best part of what we do is when we fly north and can see the mountains and the lakes,” Spc. Brandon Arther

“Flying is like an extra duty because our primary mission is to ensure the helicopter is properly maintained at all times,” explained Schornick, a native of Bay St. Louis, Miss. “We are part of a team that runs two 12-hour shifts, give or take, depending on mission requirements, all week with every ninth or tenth day for down time.”

Arther noted whether flying at night or during the day, the hours are long.

“Usually, we start getting ready about two hours before our first scheduled mission. During this time we perform the necessary pre-flight aircraft inspections, topping off fluids and logging discrepancies,” said Arther, a native of Roswell, N.M. “When we have completed all that, then we mount our guns. There’s a whole process before we go anywhere.”

Anywhere might include flying to Fallujah with stops at several forward operating bases along the way. “Add on” missions offer unexpected detours, in-flight reenlistment ceremonies and extra hours in the air.

“The downside of it all is the spur of the moment stuff, like transporting extra people that were not scheduled for pick up, and flying around Baghdad every day can get monotonous, sometimes, too,” Schornick said.

“The best part of what we do is when we fly north and can see the mountains and the lakes. It’s different,” explained Arther, a three-year Army veteran.

Spc. Brandon Arther, a Blackhawk crew chief, Company A “Werewolves,” 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, scans the ground below for possible enemy activity and attack on the aircraft. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dan Purcell

From running local “milk runs” to more dangerous tasks that take them into the very heart of the “Sunni Triangle,” both aviation mechanics are driven by their passion.

“My father was a ‘grunt’ until he reclassified into aviation and became a crew chief,” said Arther. “I guess, I was always interested in what he did, but I wanted to fly and I figured this was a good place to start.”

“I’ve always been mechanically inclined and aviation offers me an opportunity to enhance a future civilian career,” added Schornick.

At the end of each successful day, once again, the crew chiefs routinely inspect their craft.

“It’s called a ‘10-14’ inspection, Arther explained. “For every 10 hours of flight time or every 14 days, we inspect the helicopters. In the states, we average about 10 hours every two weeks, but here we fly considerably more hours in a shorter period of time.”

With inspection and maintenance comes the unenviable task of paperwork.

“We have to maintain both inspection and maintenance logs, a paper trail in case of an accident because the first thing investigators look for is human error,” Arther added.

In addition to a daily fare of missions and maintenance, crew chiefs are also responsible for training their “ground pounding” counterparts how to safely board and exit the aircraft in preparation for air assault operations.

“Taking our guys on a mission and dropping them off for a raid is pretty exciting,” Schornick said with a smile.

“These guys are real heroes, but they don’t get a lot of recognition for what they do,” said Sgt. 1st Class Russell Kirby, company first sergeant. “We are one of the few units that are in full operation around the clock, running multiple missions plus ‘add ons.’ And there are always ‘add ons.’”

Crew Chiefs in Iraq

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Spc. Brandon Arther, a Blackhawk crew chief with the Company A “Werewolves,” 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, prepares to add engine oil during a routine pre-flight maintenance check. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dan Purcell

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Spc. Dmitri Schornick, a Blackhawk crew chief, Company A “Werewolves,” 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment escorts passengers aboard a Blackhawk. Among their many duties, crew chiefs are responsible for loading, securing and unloading passengers. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dan Purcell

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Spc. Dmitri Schornick, a Blackhawk crew chief with the Company A “Werewolves,” 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, climbs up the tail of his helicopter to check for loose screws during a post-mission inspection. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dan Purcell

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Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Rodriguez, a pilot with the Company A “Werewolves,” 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, verifies proper aircraft oil mix with the manual during a pre-dawn aircraft maintenance check. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dan Purcell

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