Whether you're just beginning your career in helicopter repair, you're expanding your professional aerospace knowledge or you're the owner of a helicopter repair company, you need to know where to find training for helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul. Training ranges from full-time schooling to studying textbooks and manuals in your free time. The proper training for you depends on your aerospace background and your professional goals.

Helicopter MRO professionals must continue training throughout their career to stay on top of ever-evolving technology. General helicopter maintenance and repair training is available, as is factory training from manufacturers. When searching for the right training for helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul, consider the following:

1. Obtain a solid education in helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul by attending an accredited program.

2. Study helicopter MRO textbooks to learn the mechanical theory of helicopter aerodynamics.

3. Continue helicopter maintenance and repair training with the proper courses.

4. Use training manuals to resolve on-the-job issues.

Action Steps
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Attend helicopter repair programs and courses

Helicopter programs and courses typically offer training in general helicopter maintenance. Aerospace professionals who are seeking to branch out into helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul can benefit from completing a helicopter program with an aircraft mechanic school. Helicopter maintenance companies also offer courses for students and professionals who want to become familiar with specific models of helicopters.

I recommend: Attend an aircraft maintenance program at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance. Select a location to see which programs are available at that campus. Robinson Helicopter offers general maintenance and repair courses for R22 and R44 helicopters.

Read helicopter MRO textbooks

Students and professionals in the aerospace industry can study helicopter overhaul by reading textbooks written on the subject. Although textbooks may not be as effective without an instructor and assigned coursework, they provide comprehensive training for those who don't have time for scheduled classes. Many textbooks offer quizzes and exercises so the student can evaluate progress.

I recommend: Order Helicopter Performance, Stability and Control from Barnesandnoble.com. This book is ideal for both students and professionals. The Aircraft Technical Book Company offers Aircraft Maintenance & Repair, a textbook that focuses on comprehensive understanding rather than step-by-step instructions.

Find continued education classes for helicopter maintenance and repair

Employment with a helicopter maintenance company is often contingent on the completion of continuing education classes. As aerospace technology advances, it's important for industry professionals to stay knowledgeable. Successfully completing recurrent training courses typically increases earning potential.

I recommend: Register for aerospace short courses at The University of Kansas. These continuing education courses are for engineers, engineering managers and educators in the helicopter field. Northern Lights College offers continuing education classes that satisfy most industry and government requirements for recurrent training.

Study helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul training manuals

Manuals provide on-the-job training during helicopter repairs. Training manuals offer detailed step-by-step instructions with illustrations to guide technicians through maintenance and repairs. Keep these manuals on-site for quick reference.

I recommend: Find training manuals for Apache helicopters at Integrated Publishing. Essco Aircraft sells a large variety of helicopter manuals. Click on the subcategories for a listing of manuals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When purchasing textbooks on maintenance for helicopters, be sure to buy the latest edition of the book. Earlier editions are often cheaper, but they could lack valuable updated information.

Helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul has become a different breed of aircraft fixes than traditional airplanes. While standard helicopter MRO service providers are still available, much short term helicopter repair is done out in the field. The shift is due to the greater demand for natural resources and the energy exploration searches thereof. Also due to the need of military helicopters making longer tours out for medical and military reasons.

You will now have to be knowledgeable about your own helicopter MRO if the need arises while you are away from your base. The shift in focus means that traditional service providers can offer added value service by selling replacement parts and training clients to take care of some of their own minor repairs.

To find the right helicopter MRO for you:

1. Determine the level of helicopter MRO service you are looking for.

2. Decide if you are searching for helicopter maintenance service training of your own.

3. Work as a team, both helicopter owner and service provider, to maintain the most efficient, well-kept fleet of helicopters out there.

Action Steps
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Look at certified helicopter maintenance companies

Find Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul service providers to help you with your major MRO needs or for training on light servicing.

I recommend: Check out the helicopter engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul services and capabilities of Erickson Air-Crane, FAA repair station # JYDR439F. The Keystone Helicopter Corporation is an FAA and EASA certified full-service maintenance center that is Bell, Eurocopter, MD Helicopter and Sikorsky factory-authorized. They can help you with your upholstery and interior design, component repair and overhaul, airframe maintenance, avionics integration and installation, engineering services fabrication, sheet metal, composites as well as paint and refinishing. Look at the repair and rebuild services of Western Helicraft. Check out the helicopter MRO services of Heli-One USA out of Hurst, TX.

Look at available helicopter MRO resources

Find available helicopter MRO resources like manuals and publications to stay knowledgeable about the MRO field.

I recommend: Check out the aviation MRO resources available through McGraw-Hill's Aviation Week. Find out more helicopter news from the Defense Daily Network. Purchase the publication Helicopter Maintenance, a look at the eight major helicopter types and their systems operations. Look at the government's site on Manuals, Guides, & Handbooks to download a number of pertinent publications.

Consider helicopter repair training

Find helicopter MRO training programs in order to perform your own light repair work.

I recommend: Bell Helicopter offers advanced training on Bell-specific model helicopters. This general helicopter maintenance training is useful for those who have already completed airframe and powerplant (A&P) maintenance training. Find helicopter maintenance and repair technical resources from the Helicopter Association International. Consider the off-site maintenance for helicopters training offered through American Eurocopter. Look at the variety of aviation maintenance training programs listed through Aviation Schools Online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you train your clients on light helicopter repair, make sure that you are the only supplier that they are going to for parts. You want to keep a close eye on whatever pieces are going into the copters that you do major service on.

Helicopter maintenance and repair is an important matter of safety. So solid helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul education and training is required for anyone who wants to work for helicopter maintenance companies. Helicopter servicing, helicopter repairs and general helicopter maintenance requires specialized training and apprentice experience.

Helicopter MRO is a profession that is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration. So before you begin a career in helicopter maintenance services, you should:

1. Learn the licensing requirements for helicopter maintenance and repair employees;

2. Find quality schools that teach helicopter repair and maintenance;

3. Get helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul education and training direct from the helicopter manufacturers.

Action Steps
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Learn the mandated requirements to work in helicopter maintenance or helicopter repair

In order to work unsupervised in helicopter maintenance and helicopter repair, you should have an airframe and powerplant license (commonly referred to as an A & P license). In order to get the license, you must have civilian or military experience, or be a graduate of an FAA-approved flight mechanic school. To gain civilian experience, you must work under the supervision of a certified mechanic at an FAA repair station and provide proof of your work. If you have served in the military, you can get FAA credit for training and experience in related occupational specialties.

I recommend: Aircraft-mechanics.com goes into great detail about the requirements that must be met in order to take and pass the airframe and powerplant oral and practical exam. Various companies, including Helicopters Only, offer training manuals and test preparation guides for you to study as you prepare for the A & P exam.

Enroll in a helicopter repair school

Helicopter repair schools are located all over the country. But how do you know if a school will give you a solid education? A good school will give you the training you need to work in the aviation industry, prepare you for the FAA airframe and powerplant certification exam and provide you with job placement assistance.

I recommend: Aviation Institute of Maintenance has schools in nine locations across the country. Programs prepare students for careers as helicopter mechanics. Financial aid and job placement assistance are available. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers aviation maintenance degrees at its campus in Florida. Credit is given for students who already hold an FAA airframe and powerplant certificate.

Sign up for helicopter repair and helicopter maintenance programs offered by manufacturers

If you work for a company that has a fleet of helicopters, then you should check for training opportunities from the helicopters' manufacturer. Several manufacturers offer training programs that teach basic helicopter maintenance and repair for their products.

I recommend: Bell Helicopter Textron has an FAA-certified training facility at its facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Off-site training is also available at your facility. The Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation also provides helicopter maintenance service training for its customers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you invest in helicopter maintenance, repair and overhaul training programs, sign up for a brief internship to make sure you enjoy all aspects of the profession.

If you need helicopter maintenance, repair or overhaul, consider whether you can do it yourself or if you need to find someone to handle your rotorcraft service. Helicopter MRO is a specialized field, and some airplane maintenance facilities do not handle helicopter repairs and maintenance. Some repair services specialize and only work on helicopters from one or two manufacturers. Once you’ve made your decision about servicing your helicopter, brush up on some terms that might come up.

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Wire strike protection system

An important safety feature for your helicopter is the WSPS, or wire strike protection system. The WSPS, equipped with cutting blades and deflectors, protects a helicopter if the pilot accidentally flies into wires or cables.

I recommend: Aero Products Component Services describes the The wire strike protection system.

Gats jar

A gats jar purifies contaminated fuel by separating out non-petroleum contaminants, water and debris.

I recommend: MyPlane describes the gats jar and its use. Comments from users discuss the pros and cons.

Fueling systems

Helicopter fueling systems can be dangerous, so when working with them, care is required. Some systems are portable, whereas others are stored onboard the craft. In all cases, instructions for use need to be readily available. When fueling, be sure that you use the correct fuel and that the system you use does not contaminate the fuel. Taking proper precautions at this stage can prevent costly repairs later or even possible engine failure.

I recommend: Transport Canada presents safety precautions when working with helicopter fueling systems and provides details about fueling systems.

Lubrication

Proper lubrication is vital to the maintenance of a helicopter. Check service manuals to see how often parts need to be greased. For example, main rotor grips and trunnions must be greased after 50 hours of operation. Tail rotor and main driveshaft couplings should be lubricated every 600 hours or six months, whichever occurs first.

I recommend: Premium Oil Company discusses different MRO oils.

Tail rotor

The main function of a tail rotor is to hold the helicopter straight. A tail rotor also can be used for turning when the blades are angled properly. Keeping the tail rotor properly maintained is essential for safe flight.

I recommend: Helicopter History Site discusses the operation of the tail rotor and provides diagrams.

Electrical harness

An electrical harness is the electrical wiring between connectors, computers, electrical boxes and equipment. Each helicopter can have more than 280 harnesses. A malfunctioning electrical harness can result in a loss of power to instruments or computers.

I recommend: Integrated Publishing shows diagrams and specifications for repairing an electrical harness. Proceed to the next page for cautions when fixing the harness.