Cover Story: A Look at the UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter

by
Created: January 10, 2011

Army National Guard helicopter maintenance in Minnesota and Iraq

Minnesota National Guard technicians at night accomplishing a PMD check on a Black Hawk in Basra, Iraq. Photo courtesy of Keith Shelstad.
Minnesota National Guard technicians at night accomplishing a PMD check on a Black Hawk in Basra, Iraq. Photo courtesy of Keith Shelstad.
Technician Rick Gendreau accomplishing blade de-ice troubleshooting on the main rotor of a Black Hawk. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Rick Gendreau accomplishing blade de-ice troubleshooting on the main rotor of a Black Hawk. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Rick Gendreau accomplishing blade de-ice troubleshooting on the main rotor of a Black Hawk. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Rick Gendreau accomplishing blade de-ice troubleshooting on the main rotor of a Black Hawk. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Joe Schnellman working in the forward located avionics comp[artment of a Black Hawk. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Joe Schnellman working in the forward located avionics comp[artment of a Black Hawk. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Scott Staiert working on the upper-deck of a Black Hawk undergoing a Phase 2 inspection. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Scott Staiert working on the upper-deck of a Black Hawk undergoing a Phase 2 inspection. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Black Hawk with engines, blades, and the main rotor and gearbox assembly removed for maintenance. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Black Hawk with engines, blades, and the main rotor and gearbox assembly removed for maintenance. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Mike Ricke reassembling the tail rotor gearbox during a Phase 2 inspection. Photo by Ronald Donner.
Technician Mike Ricke reassembling the tail rotor gearbox during a Phase 2 inspection. Photo by Ronald Donner.

I discussed Army National Guard Aviation as a career with the AASF maintenance officer Major Jeff Merricks. Merricks explains that in the past there was very little turnover of technicians, but today there is more. Merricks concludes by saying, “Don’t exclude the National Guard as an aviation career. The pay and benefits are good when compared to many civilian jobs these days. This can be much more than a one weekend per month job. It’s the best-kept secret in aviation careers.”

From the editor. AMT extends a sincere thanks to all the maintenance technicians at the St. Paul AASF who participated in this article and for their service to this country. Most had deployed to Iraq on at least one occasion and some twice. During my visit the next deployment of Minnesota National Guard was being finalized.