23 January 2006
Maintenance crews keep helos flying in Pakistan and Kashmir

The maintenance crews of the Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters work long hours to justify their slogan that "pilots would be pedestrians" without them.

In the Australian Defence Force (ADF) earthquake relief mission in Pakistan and Kashmir under Operation Pakistan Assist helicopter maintenance crews always are first out of bed -- often long before first light -- and among the last to cease work for the day.

They work throughout the day, inspecting, refuelling and maintaining aircraft after each sortie.

Late into the night after the last flights have landed, the maintenance crews keep working to prepare aircraft for the next day of flying.

They check and double-check maintenance to the highest standards to ensure that aircraft are safe and able to fly on schedule in the mountainous terrain of northern Pakistan and Kashmir.

The Black Hawks periodically undergo deeper level maintenance.

This involves major tasks such as removing engines or rotor blades and detailed inspection of the aircraft and systems.

These deeper level maintenance jobs may take weeks to complete.
Every task completed is carefully recorded in aircraft maintenance logbooks to ensure completion of maintenance schedules.
The maintenance crews are part of the ADF aviation element deployed on Operation Pakistan Assist, based in Qasim Aviation Base in Pakistan.

A principal role of the aviation element is to support the ADF medical centre at Dhanni, Kashmir, which provides vital health care assistance in a district on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control which was devastated by the 8 October 2005 South Asia earthquakes.

20060113adf8195319_001 Portable night lights are turned on for night maintenance of an Australian Army Black Hawk helicopter based at Qasim Aviation Base in Pakistan as part of Operation Pakistan Assist. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_004 Craftsman Luke Buchanan (left) Craftsman Matt Bruce (top) and Craftsman Scott Breen (in cockpit) carry out after flight servicing on a Black Hawk helicopter as the sun goes down over Qasim Aviation Base. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_007 As night falls,Craftsman Luke Buchanan (top) and Craftsman Scott Breen (in cockpit) carry out after flight inspections on a Black Hawk helicopter at Qasim Aviation Base. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_015 As the sun goes down, maintenance personnel are hard at work preparing aircraft for more humanitarian aid flights. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_021 As the sun goes down, maintenance personnel are hard at work preparing aircraft for more humanitarian aid flights. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_023 The main rotor blade is secured in place by Craftsman Jason Barrett (on top) as Corporal Tyran Jarman (left) and Corporal Michael Leadbitter (right)) supervise during routine maintenance. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_024 From left, Corporal Michael Leadbitter, Corporal Tyran Jarman, Craftsman Trent Kingston and Craftsman Michael Trickett get a main rotor blade ready for fitting by Craftsman Jason Barrett and Jeremy Shields (on top) to a Black Hawk helicopter during routine maintenance. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_032 'Up the top' - Craftsman Nathan Thompson services the tail rotor of a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_041 Craftsman Nathan Thompson fits vibration detection equipment to the tail of a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060106adf8195319_032 Craftsman Nathan Thompson fits vibration detection equipment to the tail of a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_052 Craftsman Trent Kingston adjusts radio equipment during a preflight inspection on a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_056 Craftsman Liam Nicholas inspects the inside of the tail of a Black Hawk helicopter during routine maintenance. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_057 Corporal Tony Ebdon, a structural fitter, carries out a repair on a panel from a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_062 Corporal Tony Ebdon, a structural fitter, carries out a repair on a panel from a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_066 As the moon rises, Craftsman Luke Buchanan carries out after flight servicing on a Black Hawk helicopter that has returned from a humanitarian mission in the mountains. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_068 As the moon rises, Craftsman Luke Buchanan carries out after flight servicing on a Black Hawk helicopter that has returned from a humanitarian mission in the mountains. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_069 As night falls, Craftsman Luke Buchanan (top) and Craftsman Scott Breen (in cockpit) carry out after flight inspections on a Black Hawk helicopter at Qasim Aviation Base. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_070 As night falls, Craftsman Luke Buchanan (top) and Craftsman Scott Breen (in cockpit) carry out after flight inspections on a Black Hawk helicopter at Qasim Aviation Base. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_075 As night falls, Craftsman Luke Buchanan carries out an after flight inspection on a Black Hawk helicopter at Qasim Aviation Base. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_076 Craftsman Luke Buchanan carries out an after flight inspection on a Black Hawk helicopter at Qasim Aviation Base. (Date taken:13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_077 As night falls, Craftsman Scott Breen carries out radio checks as part of an after flight inspection on a Black Hawk helicopter at Qasim Aviation Base. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_081 As night falls, Craftsman Luke Buchanan and Craftsman Scott Breen carry out an after flight inspection on a Black Hawk helicopter at Qasim Aviation Base. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_092 As the sun sets over Qasim Aviation Base, Craftsman Matt Bruce (top) and Luke Buchanan carry out after flight maintenance on a Black Hawk helicopter after its last flight of the day. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_094 As the sun sets over Qasim Aviation Base, Craftsman Scott Breen prepares to tie down a main rotor blade as part of an after flight inspection on a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_099 Craftsman Matt Bruce carries out routine maintenance on a Black Hawk helicopter as part of an after flight inspection. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_103 Australian soldiers Craftsman Jeremy Shields (right) and Craftsman Jason Barrett (left) fit the main rotor blades to a Black Hawk helicopter after routine maintenance. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_104 Australian soldiers Craftsman Jeremy Shields (right) and Craftsman Jason Barrett (left) fit the main rotor blades to a Black Hawk helicopter after routine maintenance. (Date taken: 13January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_107 Craftsman Jeremy Shields guides the retaining pins of a main rotor blade into position during routine maintenance on a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_108 Craftsman Jason Barrett gives guidance to the crane driver as Craftsman Jeremy Shields assists with the fitting of a main rotor blade to a Black Hawk helicopter during routine maintenance. (Date taken:13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_110 Craftsman Trent Kingston removes the lifting sling from a main rotor blade of a Black Hawk helicopter after the rotors were re-fitted after maintenance was carried out. (Date taken:13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_115 Craftsman Trent Kingston checks radio equipment during a preflight inspection on a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_116 Craftsman Trent Kingston checks radio equipment during a preflight inspection on a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_120 Craftsman Liam Nicholas inspects the upper area of the tail wheel strut of a Black Hawk helicopter during routine maintenance. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_122 Corporal Tony Ebdon, a structural fitter, carries out a repair on a panel from a Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_130 Corporal Michael Leadbitter (foreground) works on a Black Hawk helicopter engine while Sergeant Kenneth Davis and Craftsman Liam Nicholas (background) work on the main rotor head during routine servicing. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_131 Corporal Michael Leadbitter (foreground) works on a Black Hawk helicopter engine while Sergeant Kenneth Davis and Craftsman Liam Nicholas (background) work on the main rotor head during routine servicing. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_133 Craftsman Trent Kingston fits a radio module to the instrument panel of a Black Hawk helicopter during routine servicing. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060113adf8195319_086 Craftsman Scott Breen puts the covers on the main rotor head of a Black Hawk helicopter after its final flight of the day. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060113adf8195319_090 As the sun sets over Qasim Aviation Base, Craftsman Matt Bruce and Scott Breen put the covers on the main rotor head of a Black Hawk helicopter after its last flight of the day. (Date taken: 13 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res