There are several helicopter mechanic jobs that must be completed correctly to avoid in-flight accidents, ranging from the main engine and rotor to the tail rotor and hydraulic systems. Instruments, controls, and electronics are the focus of other critical helicopter mechanic jobs. Additional mechanics may be required on military aircraft to maintain weapons systems, targeting systems, and radar.
The complexity of the machine as a whole, as well as the many complex systems incorporated into a single aircraft, necessitates the use of several people to maintain a helicopter. The helicopter’s engine is one of the most important parts of the aircraft. To work on the turbine, fuel system, and electronics system required solely to operate the engine, a variety of workers skilled in many different helicopter mechanic jobs may be required. The main rotor may also necessitate the dedication of several trained helicopter mechanics to the rotor, the gyroscope mechanism to which it is attached, and other related parts of the main rotor system. Some mechanics are trained to keep these systems in good working order, while others are capable of removing and replacing the entire engine and rotor system.
Because the average helicopter has hundreds of hydraulic lines, many helicopter mechanic jobs concentrate on the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is crucial to the helicopter’s flight and operation, from the rotor-tilting components to the rear tail rotor. The radio and electronic systems, as well as the machine’s controls, are other areas of the aircraft that require specialized skills to work on. On military-type helicopters, where the weapons and radar systems are integrated into the aircraft controls, these areas are much more complicated.
Some helicopter mechanic jobs entail general maintenance of the aircraft’s body or fuselage, such as the glass, lights, and other similar exterior features. A helicopter’s lighting system can be quite complex, with not only illuminated marker lights but also flashing warning lights. Minor details like wiper motors and on-board communication systems can bring a helicopter to a halt if they aren’t working properly. Retractable landing gear is used on some helicopters, which necessitates the use of a specialized mechanic as well as a tire changer to keep the aircraft’s equipment in good working order.