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Flight Engineers 36th RQF's 'unsung heroes'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Larry W. Carpenter Jr.
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  It's winter and a helicopter is maneuvering into one of the known landing zones, slowing down just enough to hit hover height. The flight engineer is leaning out the open door to ensure the helicopter is clear. As he leans out 40 feet above the ground, the pilot gives a little pedal input which swings the tail of the helicopter, giving the flight engineer a jolt.

The 36th Rescue Flight's flight engineers play a vital role in mission accomplishment, which includes support of the 336th survival school and civilian search and rescue missions in the local community.

The flight engineers stay in constant communication with the pilot and co-pilot, acting as a second set of eyes in the back of the chopper.

"They are vital to safety on every flight, from keeping us clear of obstacles in tight landing zones to computing accurate take off and landing data to get in and out of those LZs," said Capt. Amanda Hall, 36th RQF UH-1N Huey evaluator pilot.

Every time the 36th sends out a helicopter on a search and rescue, the flight engineer does the searching and uses the hoist to accomplish the rescue.

The flight engineers have many duties, comprising three different aspects: pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight.

Before the helicopter takes off, the flight engineer has already established weights and balances, determined the center of gravity, figured out the take-off and landing data and established the maximum velocity.

"We can actually go too fast," said Staff Sgt. Jamie Aulbach, 36th RQF Huey flight engineer. "Unlike a fix-winged aircraft, which will stall if it goes too slow, a helicopter will stall if it goes too fast through a condition called retreating blade stall."

The flight engineer is responsible for everything in the back of the helicopter while in flight, including ensuring the cargo is secure, taking care of the passengers, and operating the hoist and the Forward Looking Infrared Radar during nighttime operations.

"You have to use the FLIR during night operations because even using night vision goggles you could hover right over someone and not see them," Sergeant Aulbach said.

Also, the flight engineer reads through various checklists with the pilot or co-pilot before any switch is flipped because they have to be verified by another crewmember.

"Some of the switches are so close that if not verified, the wrong switch could be flipped and that could be disastrous," said Sergeant Aulbach. "The auxiliary fuel transfer switch is located right next to the fuel cutoff switch; we have to make sure we're flipping the right one."

On other airframes, the flight engineers will have more to do with engine startup, flipping switches, and numerous other actions. On the Huey, the flight engineer's primary focus is the rescue and actions in the back of the helicopter. In addition to that, the flight engineer must be a total-system expert.

"We have to know everything about the aircraft," said Sergeant Aulbach. "Every limit, how much fuel we can hold, how much oil, pressures, temps ... anything and everything about the aircraft."

On the Huey, the flight engineers don't perform maintenance duties. They are more in a life-saving role, preserving the lives of the crew and the aircraft.

"It's our job to know what the problem is and how to get us on the ground as quickly as possible without amplifying the problem," said Sergeant Aulbach.

According to Sergeant Aulbach, one of the trickiest things about being the flight engineer on a Huey is operating the lift.

"You have to control the cable and keep it from touching the skids because it could fray and break, potentially dropping the person you're trying to rescue," said Sergeant Aulbach.

It's vital to mission success that the pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer work as one unit, taking inputs from each to keep the aircraft safe.

"When we go up, we're just a crew - three people trying to get the mission done." said Sergeant Aulbach

All you have to do is ask a pilot about the importance of having a good flight engineer.

"As the FE patches say, they really are rescue's unsung heroes," said Captain Hall. "With that in mind, it's vital to have an FE you trust."

The flight engineers have to accomplish a check ride every 18 months with a representative from the standards and evaluations office to ensure they are still current and qualified to do the job.

Even though it is the pilot that physically flies the helicopter to and from the destination, the flight engineer must have the knowledge and capability to ensure a smooth-running mission.

(This story is the second in a three-part series on the 36th Rescue Flight.)