thedrifter
02-27-07, 07:04 AM
Heavy load to carry
CHRISSY VICK/STAFF WRITER
February 27, 2007 - 12:00AM
The Marines of the Helicopter Support Team have a dangerous job.
Consider what they did on Monday: Each member of the eight-Marine team repeatedly ran beneath a hovering CH-53E helicopter in an effort to attach a nearly 8,000-pound steel I-beam to a swinging hook - while facing wind gusts of up to 175 mph. Oh yeah, and the helicopter itself is generating about 175,000 volts of electricity.
"The down-wash is like standing in the middle of a hurricane," said Staff Sgt. Robert Martin. "And getting (an electrical shock) is, well, not fun."
Each team has its own Navy corpsman just in case something goes wrong. Dangers include getting hit by the wheel of a helicopter flying too low or stepping in front of the 8,000-pound load.
"That could give you a concussion or even kill you," Martin said.
Marines on the team recalled times when they suffered an electrical shock or were so close to the chopper they had to lay down underneath it but could still reach up and touch it.
"It's very fun when we get under the bird though," said Cpl. Juan Torres, team leader. "It's a big adrenaline rush."
So it's dangerous but exciting work for members of the team from Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group at New River Air Station. Their job is to conduct a successful single- or dual-point external lift, in which a helicopter transports a large vehicle or pallet.
CH-53E helicopters can lift loads of more than 30,000 pounds.
The training conducted this week at Landing Zone Phoenix in Holly Ridge gave the Helicopter Support Team and Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302, from Marine Aircraft Group 26, a chance to perfect something that can be vital during war.
"You have to train really hard because when we're in Iraq you have to produce," Torres said. "Otherwise, people are going to be without ammunition, supplies and food."
Learning how to execute a lift takes a lot of practice - and a great deal of communication.
An outside director and a director beneath the helicopter help center the chopper over the load to be lifted, which could be anything from a Humvee to a pallet of food. The directors are vital to the safety of the operation. With one swift hand signal they can send the helicopter away.
"One of the biggest things we hope doesn't happen is if something goes wrong," Torres said. "I have to have constant eye contact with the crew chief (of the helicopter), so I can just wave them off if something goes wrong."
Once the helicopter is centered, it must hover over the load while the team attaches the load to a hook. A "leg man" ensures that the slings or ropes on the load don't get crossed, causing the load to fall.
The "static man" has a grounding tool that attaches to the hook and then into the ground to keep Marines from being electrocuted. While all of that is happening, the "hook-up man" has to attach the load.
Marines on the ground are also in constant communication with those flying the helicopter. Pilots are kept informed by a crew chief, who lies on his stomach and looks down through the hole holding the hook and load, and others aboard the chopper.
"The guys in the back make that thing fly," said 1st Lt. Steven Adair, a student pilot with HMT-302, which conducted a number of lifts Monday. "I can only see so much because there are no mirrors. Those guys are my mirrors. You've got to trust them."
For Adair's first external lift, he said he wasn't sure what to expect.
"With such a heavy weight on there, I knew it would act different," he said. "It's kind of nerve-wracking at first because you've got guys underneath the helicopter."
Another student pilot with HMT-302, 1st Lt. Michael Tyler, said the lift training on Monday was something he was excited about.
"The CH-53's main job is transporting troops and cargo," he said. "It teaches us as helicopter pilots the basics of our job."
With the proper communication and a whole lot of trust in one another, the Marines made each of their lifts and drops successfully, he said.
Lance Cpl. Mark Strudas is one member of the Helicopter Support Team that has learned the importance of success firsthand - he has served two tours in Iraq.
"This job is excellent," said Strudas, adding that the Helicopter Support Team is also responsible for receiving and loading gear and troops on and off any aircraft. "It's a very important job. Nobody gets anywhere unless we're doing our job."
Contact Chrissy Vick at 353-1171, Ext. 239.
Ellie
CHRISSY VICK/STAFF WRITER
February 27, 2007 - 12:00AM
The Marines of the Helicopter Support Team have a dangerous job.
Consider what they did on Monday: Each member of the eight-Marine team repeatedly ran beneath a hovering CH-53E helicopter in an effort to attach a nearly 8,000-pound steel I-beam to a swinging hook - while facing wind gusts of up to 175 mph. Oh yeah, and the helicopter itself is generating about 175,000 volts of electricity.
"The down-wash is like standing in the middle of a hurricane," said Staff Sgt. Robert Martin. "And getting (an electrical shock) is, well, not fun."
Each team has its own Navy corpsman just in case something goes wrong. Dangers include getting hit by the wheel of a helicopter flying too low or stepping in front of the 8,000-pound load.
"That could give you a concussion or even kill you," Martin said.
Marines on the team recalled times when they suffered an electrical shock or were so close to the chopper they had to lay down underneath it but could still reach up and touch it.
"It's very fun when we get under the bird though," said Cpl. Juan Torres, team leader. "It's a big adrenaline rush."
So it's dangerous but exciting work for members of the team from Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group at New River Air Station. Their job is to conduct a successful single- or dual-point external lift, in which a helicopter transports a large vehicle or pallet.
CH-53E helicopters can lift loads of more than 30,000 pounds.
The training conducted this week at Landing Zone Phoenix in Holly Ridge gave the Helicopter Support Team and Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302, from Marine Aircraft Group 26, a chance to perfect something that can be vital during war.
"You have to train really hard because when we're in Iraq you have to produce," Torres said. "Otherwise, people are going to be without ammunition, supplies and food."
Learning how to execute a lift takes a lot of practice - and a great deal of communication.
An outside director and a director beneath the helicopter help center the chopper over the load to be lifted, which could be anything from a Humvee to a pallet of food. The directors are vital to the safety of the operation. With one swift hand signal they can send the helicopter away.
"One of the biggest things we hope doesn't happen is if something goes wrong," Torres said. "I have to have constant eye contact with the crew chief (of the helicopter), so I can just wave them off if something goes wrong."
Once the helicopter is centered, it must hover over the load while the team attaches the load to a hook. A "leg man" ensures that the slings or ropes on the load don't get crossed, causing the load to fall.
The "static man" has a grounding tool that attaches to the hook and then into the ground to keep Marines from being electrocuted. While all of that is happening, the "hook-up man" has to attach the load.
Marines on the ground are also in constant communication with those flying the helicopter. Pilots are kept informed by a crew chief, who lies on his stomach and looks down through the hole holding the hook and load, and others aboard the chopper.
"The guys in the back make that thing fly," said 1st Lt. Steven Adair, a student pilot with HMT-302, which conducted a number of lifts Monday. "I can only see so much because there are no mirrors. Those guys are my mirrors. You've got to trust them."
For Adair's first external lift, he said he wasn't sure what to expect.
"With such a heavy weight on there, I knew it would act different," he said. "It's kind of nerve-wracking at first because you've got guys underneath the helicopter."
Another student pilot with HMT-302, 1st Lt. Michael Tyler, said the lift training on Monday was something he was excited about.
"The CH-53's main job is transporting troops and cargo," he said. "It teaches us as helicopter pilots the basics of our job."
With the proper communication and a whole lot of trust in one another, the Marines made each of their lifts and drops successfully, he said.
Lance Cpl. Mark Strudas is one member of the Helicopter Support Team that has learned the importance of success firsthand - he has served two tours in Iraq.
"This job is excellent," said Strudas, adding that the Helicopter Support Team is also responsible for receiving and loading gear and troops on and off any aircraft. "It's a very important job. Nobody gets anywhere unless we're doing our job."
Contact Chrissy Vick at 353-1171, Ext. 239.
Ellie