Being a fixed-wing guy my entire career, can you lighten things up how dependable you were/are on a GOOD crew chief?
In recent posts it's been said that there are no longer crew chiefs onboard USN helo's, just AWHs who don't know much about their platform (as for technical matters that is). With a HAC who's eligable to sign for release there is no need for crew chiefs in todays navy, right or wrong?
Again condolances to anyone related to this unfortunate Aircrew.
Can't speak towards Navy helicopters, but in USMC Assault Support they are a VITAL member of the crew, for many different reasons.
First, they're the ones doing the daily/turnaround inspections on your aircraft. It's very comforting to know that the guy who's telling you it's safe for flight is also going to be in the aircraft with you.
Second, troubleshooting systems. It's great to have a mechanic on board when something goes wrong/seems like its going wrong who has systems knowledge that far exceeds yours. Also, when you get indications that something is going wrong, and he goes back and jiggles wire and it stops, it prevents unneccesary PEL's.
Third, in the CH-46E we can only see the front part of the aircraft. There's somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 feet of aircraft that we can't see. It's also vital that they are clearing our tails, as well as building our SA with regards to obstacles, where are wheels are, etc...
Fourth and finally, when you get a good crew chief that has incredible SA and headwork, he's indispensible. We were flying back to Al Asad in less than optimal weather (the kind that I turn on the IR searchlight, say "oh sh!t" and turn it off), and my crewchief climbed up in the tunnel and sat on the map case. When I asked him what he was doing, he said that he couldn't see anything from the 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock position, and that he would watch the engine and transmission gauges, as long as we just do the instrument flying we needed to do to get him back in one piece. You can't remove/replace that...
