HSL 51 Maintains Helicopters While Supporting Operation Tomodachi
Navy News Service
Story Number: NNS110327-04
3/27/2011
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jose Lopez Jr., U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, Public Affairs
MISAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Sailors attached to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 51 (HSL 51) performed routine maintenance on the squadron's SH-60B/F helicopters March 27 at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Misawa, Japan.
The Sailors, who normally operate from NAF Atsugi, Japan, are performing the maintenance to ensure that the helicopters stay ready to perform the tasking the squadron receives in support of Operation Tomodachi.
"Maintenance is an on-going need," said Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Andrew Clay, attached to HSL 51's Maintenance Control Department. "We have to do maintenance, and we're supporting the humanitarian assistance effort. We're getting into a routine now as everything returns a little bit back to normal."
HSL 51 relocated to NAF Misawa after the earthquake March 11 that caused a devastating tsunami on Japan's eastern coast.
"It was chaotic at first, but we plan for these situations," said Clay, a native of Ironton, Ohio. "We went from training and routine work, to assisting with a humanitarian and disaster relief effort."
For the first time since arriving in Misawa, HSL 51 was able to perform a strictly routine maintenance flight. The functional check flight is performed after a helicopter has received service in the shop. This is done to make sure the helicopter functions as needed.
"After 175 hours of flight time we must inspect the helicopters," said Clay. "Once the helicopter is inspected, we conduct the functional flight check We make sure that everything is functional, that the helo has no excessive vibrations."
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