Tough breaks

I had a much more reasonable start today than yesterday. A 0940 brief is almost gentlemanly. Unfortunately, things went downhill rapidly after the brief. I and my crew were scheduled for the first plane guard flight this morning, launching at 1140. The fixed wing launch was scheduled for 1200. Right before I was about to launch, as I finished my system checks, I found that we had a problem with our tail rotor hydraulic system--the same problem, in fact that I had in this same aircraft on the morning that I left San Diego. It was repairable but would take time, so I made a quick decision to get pulled off the spot and to launch the alert aircraft in my place, which was manned by the alert crew in case I had a problem. So my aircraft was towed back to the stuff, and the other aircraft was towed out, and began to spread their blades--but wasn't able to finish the task! The automatic blade fold system failed. So just as we were finishing our preflight of a new alert aircraft, they pulled that 3rd aircraft out of the stuff and we climbed into it to launch.

We finally got off the deck around 1225, causing a delay in the rest of the day's events. When things go wrong, boy do they go wrong! The CO launched to go to Guam just before I landed and I will debrief the morning with him when he lands late tonight. It was a tough start to the day. At least we got some good training done during the flight, including some practice rescue evolutions for our junior crewman, who is new to the squadron. We had one of our junior airmen (a Plane Captain) fly with us today as well--a good deal flight for him.

A Plane Captain is a sailor who has qualified to conduct "Daily" and "Turn-around" inspections on our aircraft and to direct aircraft for launch and recoveries. These inspections are the last maintenance action completed on each aircraft before it is considered ready for flight. They are done each day (Daily) and between flights if the aircraft is shut down and the crew changes (Turnaround). It is a big responsibility for a young 19 year-old airman, who has been in the navy for maybe 9 months. We are very proud of our PC's and the hard work they do on the flight deck each day. When you see pictures or video from a flight deck, PC's are the ones wearing brown shirts, usually standing in front of an aircraft or climbing all over it doing an inspection. Back in San Diego, we have a board in the entry way to the squadron, with pictures of each of our PC's. It is often the first real qualification that aviation sailors earn in their careers. I have the privilege of sitting on their oral examination boards, at which they earn their final qual.

I spent some time talking with my copilot today, signing off some discussion items in his PQS (Personnel Qualification Standard) book, as he is working towards his Helicopter 2nd Pilot qualification. H2P is the first qual that a pilot earns after checking into his first squadron. We discussed helicopter aerodynamics and performance for the better part of 2 hours. I drew lots of pictures. I guess word has gotten out that I'm the guy to talk to for this subject (it's one of my favorites).

I tried to join the squadron's "mandatory" PT (Physical Training -- navy-speak for exercise) group down in the hangar bay tonight at 2000. Unfortunately, there was too much going on down there, and we got moved from one hangar bay to the other, until finally, there was just no room for the group (about 20 folks, most of whom had to be there, some of whom were there for the group experience). We have a biannual/bienniel??... twice a year PT test (situps, pushups, 1 1/2 mile run) and those who do not meet a certain standard must go to "mando" PT until they pass. When the group in the hangar bay was dissolved, I wandered up to the "Lido Deck" and rode a spin bike in the dark for half an hour, watching the white caps float by, and listening to jets landing over our heads, which occasionally drowned out my "workout" mix on the iPod. Another day on the boat almost complete.