AL ASAD AIR BASE, IRAQ - "Maintenance never rests" is a common phrase said on the flight line aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Working in overlapping shifts of 12 hours on, 12 hours off, the maintainers are turning wrenches seven days a week to keep the aircraft capable of flying missions.
Keeping the aircraft ready while they are flying missions everyday takes a lot of effort, planning and prioritizing issues with the aircraft to decide which ones need fixing and which ones can still fly. The relief comes on maintenance day, a day when the aircraft are wiped off the flight schedules to give the maintainers an entire day to get hands-on with each aircraft.
The maintenance Marines of Detachment A, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, spent June 24, conducting a maintenance day, grounding all aircraft for one day to knock out maintenance work without the pressure of a flight schedule.
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