The various procedures and processes involved in the maintenance and repair of helicopters, including inspections, repairs, and overhauls.
Helicopter Construction: Understanding the basic design and components of helicopters, including the main rotor assembly, tail rotor assembly, transmission, and engine.
Maintenance Manuals: Learning how to read, interpret, and follow maintenance manuals for specific types of helicopters to ensure timely and effective troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance.
Inspection Techniques: Developing skills in visual, non-destructive testing, and inspection of helicopter components and systems to identify signs of wear, damage, and other issues that could impact safety and performance.
Overhauling components: Developing knowledge of the steps, tools, and procedures required to complete overhauls of the engine, transmission, rotor, and other key systems components to extend their lifespan.
Helicopter maintenance: Understanding the importance of regular maintenance tasks, including lubrication, cleaning, and adjustment, to maximize the safety, reliability, and performance of the helicopter.
Troubleshooting: Developing problem-solving skills to diagnose and fix common issues that can arise in the operation of helicopters, such as electrical problems, hydraulic leaks, or damaged components.
Safety and best practices: Understanding safety requirements and best practices in the maintenance and repair of helicopters, including proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), safe handling of hazardous materials, and adherence to OSHA and FAA regulations.
Technical documentation: Familiarizing yourself with technical documents such as blueprints, schematics, and drawings to understand the design and function of helicopter components and systems.
Maintenance software: Learning to use maintenance software programs to manage, schedule, and track maintenance and repair activities, as well as to analyze and diagnose issues with helicopter systems.
Training and certification: Understanding the requirements for training and certification in helicopter maintenance, including programs offered by the FAA, manufacturers, and other organizations.
Parts procurement: Learning the processes and methods involved in procuring, purchasing, and tracking replacement parts and other components necessary for helicopter repair and maintenance.
Operational checks: Understanding the importance of operational checks to ensure that all systems on a helicopter are functioning correctly before it goes back into service.
Daily/Pre-flight Inspection: These are the routine checks conducted by the pilot or ground crew before every flight to ensure that the helicopter is in a safe condition for flight.
Routine Maintenance: These are scheduled maintenance tasks that are carried out at specified intervals. They include tasks such as engine checks, lubrication, and filter replacements.
Unscheduled Maintenance: These are repairs and maintenance tasks that are not planned, but become necessary due to unexpected issues or malfunctions.
Preventive/ Predictive Maintenance: This is maintenance that is performed to prevent problems before they occur. It involves regular inspections, testing, and analysis of data to identify potential issues and take corrective action.
Overhaul/Rebuild: This type of maintenance involves a complete disassembly of the helicopter to inspect, repair, and replace components. It is usually done after a set number of flight hours or years of service.
Component Replacement: This is the replacement of specific components such as landing gear, transmission, rotor blades, or avionics.
Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting involves diagnosing and solving problems with the helicopter's systems, such as electrical, hydraulic, or fuel systems.
Structural Repair: This type of maintenance involves repairing structural damage to the helicopter's airframe, engine cowling or rotating components.
Modification/Upgrades: This type of maintenance involves adding new features, systems, or upgrades to the helicopter to improve its performance or functionality.
Calibration: This is the adjustment of instruments and gauges to ensure that they are accurate and functioning correctly.
Cleaning and Detailing: This is the cleaning and detailed inspection of the helicopter's interior, exterior, and components to ensure that it is in a clean and presentable condition.