The US Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG) is providing UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter maintenance training to the Latvian Air Force.
MIARNG Company B, 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment is responsible for providing the training.
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Latvian Air Force captain Raimonds Lugēņins is the first UH-60 maintainer to receive the training in Michigan, MIARNG staff sergeant Tristan Viglianco reported.
US Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 147th Aviation Regiment special projects officer Craig Fleser said: “When we were asked if we could provide training and expertise to the Latvian Air Force, we reviewed their needs and came back with a yes.
“As of right now we plan on training on-the-ground maintainers and crew chiefs in the back of aircraft.”
Lugēņins, who is acting as a test run, has already completed learning UH-60 repair basics. He spent ten weeks for this at Pennsylvania’s Eastern ARNG Aviation Training Site in Fort Indiantown Gap.
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By GlobalDataHe said: “The UH-60 is a totally new helicopter for the Latvian Air Force.
“Since it is a new system, we don’t know about it. Getting insight on maintenance, flying, and operation from experienced guys is a good thing.”
The Latvian Air Force is procuring four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Currently, Mi-17 Hip serves as the Latvian Air Force’s primary helicopter.
UH-60 crew chief Company B 147th Aviation Regiment US Army sergeant Zach Hollman said: “[Lugēņins] will be receiving the same training that any non-rated crew member who flies and works on Black Hawks receives.”
