LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was called to assist a joint partner when a U.S. Marine CH-53E Super Stallion stopped for repair at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas, March 20-21.
The 366th Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron’s aircraft was grounded during a routine flight for a weapons and tactics instructor course due to the rotor head failing upon shutdown operations.
The flight was cut short, but repair took significantly less time because U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Corey Varner, 19th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion craftsman, was sent out to support as a crane operator.
“Without Little Rock Air Force Base’s help in repairing the aircraft, we would have been waiting a much longer period of time for a contracted crane operator,” said U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Patrick Webb, 366th Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron maintenance material control officer.
Due to the interoperability between the Airmen and the Marines, the aircraft was repaired and the Marines were able to continue with their mission and fly back to their home station, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina.