If your car breaks down because of a lack of routine maintenance you might get stuck on the side of US 19. If your helicopter breaks down mid-flight, it’s another story entirely. Flight maintenance supervisor Brian Egnatuk, and flight mechanics Charles Galloza and Joshua Wells are responsible for the perpetual cycle of frequent inspections and repairs that keep our helicopters ready to provide air support to our deputies and law enforcement partners.

“Helicopter maintenance is extremely complex and unforgiving of any error or oversight,” said Flight Sergeant Bryan Smith. “They need to be looked at every day, even when nothing is broken, to make sure problems are addressed before they become bigger issues. To be honest, there is no such thing as a ‘minor’ problem when it comes to helicopter maintenance. Experienced helicopter technicians are few and far between in the aviation industry.”

That’s why having someone like Egnatuk is so vital. “With more than 30 years of experience, the value Brian brings to our program is absolutely incalculable. He once brought me a tiny piece of carbon, no bigger than a grain of sand, that was partially blocking oil flow to a critical engine bearing. Only someone with his level of knowledge, professionalism, and patient thoroughness would have found that tiny speck, which would have eventually led to a major problem. Nobody in the Flight Unit is more trusted and respected than him.”

There’s a reason the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has three helicopters – that’s the only way to make sure one is always available. Their strict maintenance schedule can keep them out of commission for days or weeks at a time. “Typically we like to keep one aircraft as the duty aircraft,” Galloza said. “When you start flying two at the same time, or even on rare occasions three, you start running into inspection times colliding, and then you can end up having no aircraft available.” It takes a lot of planning to time the flight hours and repairs just the right way to ensure there’s always an aircraft ready.

Although it can vary, on a typical day a helicopter might be in the air for a total of four to six hours between day and night shifts. Mechanics check the helicopter every day in the morning, looking over the general condition, making sure nothing is leaking. “Then when the flight crew comes they look it over too,” Galloza said. “They have a checklist.” The helicopters undergo an inspection every week after 30 hours of flight time. That inspection is fairly quick, but the 100-hour inspection takes a day or two. 

The next level, which takes place after 150 hours of flight time, takes about a week. “Our typical inspection is the 150,” Galloza said. “We clean the filters, change the oil in the tail rotor gear box. It’s just a little more in-depth maintenance – we’re taking things apart, greasing bearings, blade pins.”

The 600 hour inspection is even more intense. The landing gear is removed and inspected, and the whole rotor head and tail rotor are taken apart. The engine or gear box may be sent out for overhaul. As FAA-certified mechanics they have the know-how to do those overhauls themselves but, “When it comes to component overhauls we send that out because they have all the tooling, they have the way to test it once they put it back in.”

When the 600 hour inspection is in progress, “It looks like a different aircraft,” Wells said. “All the panels are gone.” This level of inspection and maintenance takes a couple of months. That’s a long time for a helicopter to be out of commission – which is why it is so vital that the PCSO has three helicopters. We provide law enforcement aviation support for the entire county so there always has to be a helicopter ready to take off at a moment’s notice. 

Minor leaks are a common issue. “You can fly with some things leaking,” Galloza said. While that might not sound very reassuring, he says they never even get close to the level of leaks the manufacturer allows. 

If a pilot reports a leak and the mechanics say they’ll take care of it, the pilots never tend to follow up. However, one repair job leads to constant queries. “In their pre-flight the pilots might miss something that would be obvious to a mechanic, but one thing they always catch is when the air conditioner doesn’t work. If the blower isn’t 100 percent, they report it. It’s not the most common problem, but it is definitely the thing they complain loudest about.” And no, the helicopter doesn’t get grounded for a broken air conditioner, even in the middle of August. 

Wells went through aviation school and then worked at a flight school before joining the PCSO. He always wanted to work on helicopters. “This is where I wanted to end up, working on an Airbus helicopter. I just think they’re fun to work on.” He considers himself lucky to be working with such knowledgeable professionals as Egnatuk and Galloza. “These guys know a lot, especially our supervisor, he’s been doing it for 30 years. It’s just crazy how much these guys know and how much I get to learn.”

“I always wanted to do avionics,” Galloza said, referring to the electrical components of the helicopter. He worked on planes at various places, including commercial airlines, but reached a point where he thought he wanted to get out of aviation so he applied with the PCSO as an automotive mechanic in 2014. Luckily they needed someone with an electrical background, and he started out in Fleet, doing installs for the Tahoes. “It wasn’t avionics, but at least it was electrical work.” Later he checked out the Flight Unit and made the move there in 2018. “I always wanted to work with helicopters but it’s hard to get those jobs.”

Galloza now gets to work on the avionics, just as he always hoped. “It took me a little while to get the blessing from supervision,” he said. “Our supervisor has to answer for what we do, so he has to make sure we’re spooled up and okay before he can set us free.” Also, Egnatuk enjoys working with avionics himself, and there’s always a little competition for the most enjoyable work.

Some of the tasks are fun, others not so much. “I’m not a big fan of doing corrosion” Wells said. With a hot humid climate and a hangar right next to the salty air of the bay, they fight a constant battle against the elements. The helicopters get frequent engine rinses with distilled water, and they get a wash every 150 flight hours with a special soap.

“We’re a repair station, so the FAA could come out at any time and look at our work orders,” Galloza said. “They come once a year for a surprise visit. Being a repair station makes us more transparent. We’ve always had the culture of taking pride in our work.” 

In this episode we talk with Deputy Jill Constant of the Marine and Environmental Lands Unit. From rescuing manatees in distress to braving seas that are too rough even for the Coast Guard, Deputy Constant helps keep our waterways safe. After a childhood spent learning the value of preserving natural resources she knew she wanted to combine environmentalism with her desire to put bad guys in jail. Learn how she helped arrest a dangerous carjacker who was much better on land than in the water, find out why local snails are safer thanks to her, and much more.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE #6

Grab lunch or dinner at one of your favorite local restaurants on August 29^th or 30^th, and you can help the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) train and inspire the next generation of young leaders. Our Public Safety Cadets Unit #900 depends on your donations, and one of the easiest – and most delicious – ways to support them is to participate in Dine-Out Day. “Dine-Out Day happens once a year,” said Cadets Mentor Deputy Megan Tindall of the Youth Services Unit. “It is a partnership we have with local restaurants in the county.” The public can buy Dine-Out Day Dollars in $5 increments, then use them at any one of the many participating restaurants. Fifty percent of the proceeds go directly to the Cadets. 

Even though Cadets are housed within the PCSO, they are funded primarily through donations and fundraisers. The cadets work hard all year to raise the money that goes toward their uniforms, equipment, and all things related to local, state, or national competitions. Travel, lodging, and food costs for competitions are covered regardless of a Cadet’s ability to pay. “The last thing I want is for an individual to not be able to participate because of their family’s socioeconomic conditions. Through Dine-Out Day, we’re able to give those kids a chance to be part of the program, have those experiences, and gain knowledge and leadership skills. I don’t want someone to feel left out.”

Cadets get first-hand experience in many aspects of law enforcement – not just Patrol, but also the Jail, Forensics, the Communication Center, and more. They have weekly meetings that include instruction in such things as physical training, defensive tactics, and training scenarios ranging from traffic stops to active shooter drills – just like actual deputies. There is a weekly firearms night where they practice marksmanship and decision making skills at the PCSO range. They also have the opportunity to participate on the Honor Guard or Drill Teams. 

The Cadets are held to high standards. “They’re a really great group of kids,” Deputy Tindall said. “They try to achieve the best they can academically.” Cadets are required to meet a minimum grade point average and present every report card to their mentors. Academic assistance is provided when needed. “The Cadets also have to complete a minimum of 60 hours of community service a year.” Many of the Cadets go well beyond that. “We had 3,168 total community service hours in the last academic year. Cadets worked 45 different details across the county. Nine Cadets had 100 hours, one had 149 hours, and two had more than 200 hours.” 

Cadets Lieutenant Michael Lopez was the top volunteer at 251 hours. “He’s our overachiever – he wants to do everything,” Deputy Tindall said. “He’s part of Honor Guard and Drill Teams, and does Communication, Jail, and Patrol ridealongs. He takes a lot of pride in his leadership and his skills. Just like in Patrol, you look good, you feel good, you act good. He wants to make sure everything is just right.”

Cadets volunteer at Ride and Run With the Stars, Seminole Music in the Park, Tarpon Triathlon, Walk Like MADD, Halloween events, car shows, and more. They can also use their volunteer hours for the Bright Futures scholarship and other high school community service requirements. 

“The biggest part of Cadets is developing leadership skills,” Deputy Tindall said. “A lot of them are 14 or 15 when I first come in contact with them and they don’t have those leadership skills or that strong background in public speaking, they don’t have enough empowerment of themselves, so building up that confidence – to speak, to ask questions, to become a strong youth – helps them become a strong adult later on. That’s the most powerful and the most humbling part of my position.”

They even learn skills they could be missing out on at home – things that will help them out not just in their future careers, but in life. “When we went up to Gatlinburg for our national competition they were required to iron their own uniforms and to help clean, cook, do laundry, and take out the trash. If they didn’t know how to do something, we taught them.”

Cadet Lieutenant Lopez said, “Growing up I was always interested in military and law enforcement, the high-rush type stuff. You learn so much here – leadership, public speaking, maturity. I started at 15, and I’m 17 now. It’s cool to see the newer Cadets come in at a young age, and see how they change, how they mature."

“This is probably one of the best programs to join as a kid,” said Cadet Captain Abdullah Khaleel. “The opportunities this program provides for the youth are mind blowing.” 

Youth Administrative Services Captain Mike Leiner encourages the public to participate. “Dine-out-Day is our biggest fundraiser of the year. If you’re going to eat on August 29^th or 30^th, all we ask is you try and do so at one of our participating restaurants and use your dollars. It goes a long way and really makes a positive impact on these kids’ lives.”

To get your Dine-Out Day dollars, contact Deputy Megan Tindall at 727-409-3573 or mtindall@pcsonet.com. If you’d like to make a direct donation to Cadets Unit #900 please visit www.pcsoweb.com/dineoutday