Aviation Life Support System Management Program TC 3-04.72.pdf

Chapter 2Army's transformation requirements, newer integrated systems that increase ALSE complexity are beingfielded, a process that demands better maintenance planning and a higher degree of maintenance skill.2-5. ALSE comforts, sustains, and protects crewmembers throughout flight and provides additionalprotection from impacts and postcrash fires. ALSE also enhances the means to escape, evade, and survivein combat or any hostile environment.EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCEConcepts and Policies2-6. The unit's primary maintenance objective is to maintain available aircraft in mission-ready status.ALSS maintenance is critical to accomplishing missions and fulfilling other unit maintenance requirements.2-7. Working in any type of aviation environment is challenging; however, unit ALSS programs mustremain functional in all operational environments. ALSS assets are critical to sustaining communications,mobility, and survivability; maintenance of these resources should not become a secondary objective.Commanders must provide personnel and financial resourcing to effectively maintain and sustain theirALSS maintenance, training, and operational programs. Units often face critical decisions such as how toobtain required ALSE, who should perform maintenance, and how personnel should train with and useALSE.2-8. The following maintenance concepts and policies must be observed:• ALSE must be maintained at mission capable status at all times.• ALSE inspection, maintenance, and repair must be accomplished according to the applicabletechnical manual (TM), technical order (TO), or Naval Air (NAVAIR) publication for theequipment involved and with authorized repair parts, special tools, and test equipment.• Unserviceable ALSE beyond the maintenance authority's capabilities must be promptly reportedor delivered to the next-higher maintenance level.• Quality maintenance depends on preventive maintenance services and inspections.• Operator (crewmember) maintenance must be a priority and emphasized consistently throughoutthe chain of command. Personal maintenance is a key factor in ALSS operational readiness.• AR 95-1, AR 95-20, and Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA Pam) 738-751 contain specificpolicies on ALSE use, maintenance, and responsibilities. Commanders at all levels should knowand understand these policies.• ALSE Class V items must be reviewed for stockpile reliability (surveillance) in accordance withAR 740-1, Supply Bulletin (SB) 742-1, and Technical Bulletin (TB) 9-1300-385 and recorded onDA Form 3022-R (Army Depot Surveillance Record).Program Considerations2-9. Major considerations for the ALSS maintenance program at field maintenance locations include—• Maintaining the highest degree of mobility (preparing load plans and practicing deploymentprocedures).• Completing all scheduled maintenance before deployment or entry into surge operations to avoidpotentially unserviceable ALSE and failure to meet mission requirements.• Setting priorities (unit commander and production control) for environmental considerations andequipment maintenance based on mission requirements.• Managing intensive maintenance operations (this consideration is especially critical since combatoperations may result in shortages of personnel, repair parts, and aircraft).• Predesignating and training crewmembers regarding the ALSS program so minimal time andresources are expended during critical periods.2-2 TC 3-04.72 15 October 2009