Centaurs keep Falcons flying over Afghanistan

[dreadpirateroberts]

Centaurs keep Falcons flying over Afghanistan

By Master Sgt. Doug Sample
April 17, 2006

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (Army News Service, April 17, 2006) – It doesn’t take a mathematician to know that that if the 277th Aviation Support Battalion continues at its current pace, its yearlong deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom will be a hectic one.

In their first month here, avionic and system maintenance mechanics with the Fort Drum, N.Y.-based unit – also known as Task Force Centaur – logged more than 6,000 man-hours and completed more than 345 work orders for Task Force Falcon, which provides Coalition forces close-air support in combat and supplies throughout Afghanistan.

The Centaurs know their job is vital, said Capt. Michael Dunaway, commander.

“No matter how small the piece of equipment, it may be the one piece that keeps an Apache from providing ground cover for our Soldiers, or our Chinooks or Blackhawks from flying support missions,” the Morrilton, Ark., native said. “Our Soldiers know that without them these helicopters don’t fly.”

The Centaurs work steadily inside a hangar and in several small buildings on the flightline, repairing everything from main rotor hubs and tail rotor blades to power trains and sheet metal.

No matter what it takes, Sgt. 1st Class William Lott, the unit’s production control officer, said his troops will get the job done.

“A lot of detailed maintenance can’t be done at the unit level, so it is sent here,” said Lott, a Phoenix native. “We handle repairs other maintenance units can’t. Ninety percent of the repairs that come in are done here.”

The Centaurs also do major maintenance on aircraft, taking them apart and inspecting them, and replacing damaged or worn parts.

To accomplish the mission, crews work 12-hour shifts and some shops remain open around the clock. Day or night, the Soldiers say they are committed to their work.

“Knowing that my job helps support the mission means a lot to me,” said Spc. Nicole Humphrey, who used to tinker with cars in her yard in Dover, Tenn., but now repairs drive shafts and transmissions on Chinooks and Blackhawks.

“Our aircraft have an important mission,” she said, “and I’m proud to be a part of this unit because of that.”

(Editor's note: Master Sgt. Doug Sample writes for the Task Force Falcon Public Affairs Office.)