Combined Air Power Transition Force Team repairs Mi-17 in the Field and Returns to Kabul Published July 27, 2010 By Capt. Rob Leese 438th AEW PAO KABUL, Afghanistan -- On July 23, 2010, Afghan Air Force Mi-17 tail number 594 was flown home to Kabul after being repaired in the field by members of the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and logistics transportation support from the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron. The aircraft tailboom was damaged in an accident in Dec. 2009 at Forward Operating Base Orgun-e. It took a team of contractors, CAPTF mentors, and AAF maintainers about 6 weeks ago to replace the boom. Tech. Sgt. Jeramie Snead, CAPTF AN-32 engine and body advisor stated, "It was a difficult task with the equipment that we had; however, the contractors were very knowledge and are outstanding maintainers. The entire tailboom, tailrotor, and main rotor gear box needed to be changed out. There was a lot of structural, electrical, and avionic work that needed to be accomplished." Support to this repair included last month's first Mi-17 sling load and multiple sling loads that followed. Master Sgt. Simmons and Tech. Sgt. Marsh were available to rig the repeated sling loads. Capt. Sean Masters, CAPTF Mi-17 mentor explained the uniqueness of the escort flight, "It was a 3-ship returning to Kabul with a mixed American-Afghan flight crew in the lead, followed by an All-Afghan crew and the third was an all Ukrainian contractor crew with one CAPTF mentor. I believe this would be a first American-Afghan-Ukrainian Mi-17 formation." Before the Tail Number 594 Mi-17 was escorted back to Kabul, the Ukrainian contracting crew finished the flight tests and final repairs at the forward area rearming and refueling point at FOB Orgun-e. The 3-ship returned to Kabul with over 3,000 lbs. of maintenance cargo and 25 passengers. The aircraft will be repainted and returned to service providing the AAF with another tool to help in the fight to secure Afghanistan.