POHANG, Republic of Korea (March 11, 2007) --

It is the duty of helicopter pilots serving with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to accomplish the mission and bring their aircraft back to the hangar safely. The crew chiefs of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced) share this responsibility with their pilots by maintaining the aircraft and acting as the pilots’ “sixth sense” during flight operations.

Crew chiefs are a vital part of the aircrew and are a component of the team that pilots appreciate.

The main mission of a helicopter crew chief is to perform pre-flight, post-flight and in-flight inspections, launch and recover aircraft, and organize all maintenance on aircraft. Crew chiefs also look for any potential dangers their aircraft may come into contact with and assist their pilots with anything they may need, according to Sgt. Christopher Trahan, a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter crew chief.

As crew chiefs, these Marines are required to attend schools, such as the Naval Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., Mechanics School and Crew Chief Training with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. They are also required to qualify in a multitude of certifications ranging from a flight physical and helicopter egress/water survival training to aerial gunnery and terrain flight training.

Trahan, who has been stationed on Okinawa, Japan with the Dragons for more than three years, touring the Asia-Pacific region with the MEU, said that his job is an outstanding experience.

“I love my job,” said Trahan, a Sulphur, La., native. “I wake up and go flying nearly every day; it doesn’t get much better than that.”

However, flying is not without its challenges. Even with night vision goggles, flying without a moon in a pitch black environment or in extreme weather conditions can be a test, especially when crew chiefs must help choose and clear landing zones that are not much bigger than the aircraft.

Because of this, communication is a must, according to Cpl. Greg Moore, a Sea Knight crew chief.

“There's always a continuous flow of communication between the crew chiefs and the pilots,” explained Moore, who calls Tampa home. “The crew chiefs see many things the pilots can't. Since the pilots can only see forward through the cockpit windows, the crew chiefs are responsible for the rear, sides, above and directly below the aircraft.”

Crew chiefs like Trahan and Moore must always practice to refine their skills by conducting training, such as confined area landings, aerial gunning, night-vision operations and low-altitude flights. This maintains and builds their skills to ensure the Dragons remain ready for anything while the MEU is underway.

“Our crew chiefs work extremely hard,” said Maj. Jason Latchaw, a Sea Knight helicopter pilot, who is a native of Shawnee, Okla. “They show up at least three hours before launch time to make sure everything is squared away and work a couple hours after flight. These crew chiefs train and work hard during day and night. It’s because of Marines like these that we always get the job done. I trust them completely.”

All flight operations require a strong sense of teamwork, said Latchaw, who has been a Sea Knight pilot for approximately 14 years. When it comes to overall readiness of this squadron, the pilots control where the helicopter flies, and the crew chiefs make sure the helicopters are ready for the mission.

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