An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Iraqi airmen keep helicopter fleet flying

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Don Branum
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TAJI AIR BASE, Iraq --  The scent of oil and mechanical parts drifted through the air as an Mi-17 Hip helicopter sat in the shade of a hangar here Sept. 11. Its rear door lay open, and panels along its tail boom were lifted away and stowed as Iraqi airmen crawled through the vehicle's innards.

Two airmen straddled the tail, about a meter from the tail blade, while a third had shimmied inside the tail boom, inspecting the inside. On a nearby table sat an Mi-17 technical order -- a step-by-step repair and maintenance manual that is just one example of the processes and procedures Iraqi airmen have picked up from their American counterparts.

One of those counterparts is Tech. Sgt. Lee Everhart, an Mi-17 air adviser with the 770th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here. The 770th AEAS is part of the Coalition Air Forces Training Team, one of the Military Transition Teams assigned to Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq and charged with assisting Iraqis in rebuilding their government and armed forces.

Everhart, a native of Charlotte, N.C., joined the Air Force 16 years ago to see the world and get an education. He volunteered for his deployment to the 770th AEAS.

"Where else do you get to work on stuff like this?" he asked, gesturing toward a helipad where about a dozen Mi-17s were parked.

The Mi-17 in the hangar had made a hard landing during a recent training mission, and its tail skid struck and dragged across the ground. Iraqi airmen brought the aircraft into the second-line maintenance shop, which -- like a U.S. Air Force phase dock -- typically performs time-required maintenance on helicopters. In this case, the airmen inspected several parts in the tail assembly for possible damage.

"They'd been using this Hip for cannibalization," he said, referring to logistical challenges the squadrons have had to overcome. "They had just gotten it back to flying status two flights ago."

Everhart said the American and Iraqi airmen have made significant progress toward building a fully operational Iraqi air force and a self-reliant Iraq. That goal has drawn Iraqi airmen of all ages and backgrounds into the new air force. Iraqi air force Maj. Yussef Naji, an electrical technician, is a 34-year veteran.

"I feel my country needs me now," Naji said. "The new country needs my help to build a new democracy."

Iraqi air force 2nd Lt. Ali Hashm-Abbas, an Mi-17 technical mechanic, joined only 12 months ago.

"I believe in building a new country," Hashm-Abbas said. "I want other people to join -- we need new blood to build a new air force." He signed a 15-year contract to serve and said he plans to serve in the Iraqi air force until he retires -- "and if they need me again, I'll say yes."

The maintainers are eager to learn, Everhart said.

"The younger Iraqis come to us on a daily basis and ask, 'Please sign us off on this,'" he said. "They want knowledge."

And they've learned more than their jobs: they've also learned about the American spirit.

"I've learned a lot from the American guys," Hashm-Abbas said. "We've learned about training, and we've learned about a new culture. We have a good relationship with the Americans."

The close relationship has paid off. Iraqi airmen now have full control over their training and operational flights and are responsible for their own national security. American Airmen play a sideline role.

"It's unbelievable how far they've come in just the five months we've been here," Everhart said.