Blade runners
Helos’ vital Op Pakistan Assist role

Wing and a prayer: Medics transport an injured local to a Black Hawk for transport to a hospital in Islamabad. Photo by Cpl Neil Ruskin

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

5 AVN Regt Black Hawks are now in the thick of the action in the earthquake devastated region of northeast Pakistan.

Based at Qasim military airfield, about 10km south of Islamabad, the four Black Hawks arrived in Pakistan on November 23, having been flown from Australia on board a chartered Antonov cargo aircraft. Within 48 hours of their arrival the Black Hawks were ready to start their lifesaving work.

Capt Tim Frankel, the detachment’s XO/OPSO, said the countryside and valleys in the Dhanni region were dotted with refugee camps.

“There are numerous areas that have been affected, and the worst hit towns have been turned into rubble,” he said.

“A lot of the hillsides have fallen away around the earthquake’s epicentre – the landslides are something to behold. It’s a real conflict of emotions, because all that it offset by the magnificent scenery. We are flying in the foothills of the Himalayas, and in the distance you can see these magnificent mountains, while all around you is this destruction.

“We fly about nine hours every day. We’re flying aid, but a lot of what we do is aeromedical evacuations (AMEs), where we move casualties from Dhanni and other remote locations back here to the US field hospital.”

Capt Frankel said a typical day for the aircrew involved being up and ready for the taskforce pilot briefing at 0530 hr.

“There we receive the day’s tasking and take-off times,” he said.

“The Australian aircraft tend to work together, so we generally get a pair of our Black Hawks and head off over Islamabad and up into the mountains, which are only five minutes flying time away. Our first task tends to be set in stone, but as the day unfolds our requirements often change, usually because of the AMEs.”

The Black Hawks and the majority of the Op Pakistan Assist’s logistic personnel are now collocated with the US military’s Task Force Eagle at Qasim airfield. Capt Frankel said the Black Hawks had been integrated into the US task force, but were on priority call to the Australians at Dhanni.

“There is no airfield in Dhanni, and it is such a remote location that there isn’t enough space for the aircraft to be based there and maintained,” he said.

“We’re now over 70 people strong here, and there simply isn’t the room for the aircraft or the manpower at Dhanni. There’s no fuel there either. Here, we have hangar space, fuel, room to work and all our spare parts come in through Islamabad, so we’re based at the best possible location for the task,” Capt Frankel said.

Black Hawk detachment medic Cpl Amy Babbage said she was enjoying the challenge of her new multicultural environment.

“We’re working in a very large hangar, but we’re sleeping in tight, confined areas and tents,” she said. “Our work environment is very dusty and noisy, and there are a lot of aircraft around us – at least 10 different types. The air is full of noise for about 20 hours each day, even at midnight the Americans are still swinging spanners.

“The Americans are very helpful, but it’s funny watching them trying to understand our culture. We have a small TV area, and when we put on Australian videos they have difficulty with our Australian humour.

“The Americans have hired Pakistani contractors to make the meals, so most of the food is local cuisine. However, our Aussie influence is slowly but surely creeping into their cooking.”

Wherever possible support personnel are given the opportunity to see the devastation so that they can better understand what their mission is about. Tech Spt Tp Comd Capt Steve Cleggett said he was amazed when he first flew into the destroyed valleys around Dhanni.

“You can see large fault lines running through the mountains,” he said. “Whole villages have been wiped out, but we can also see the good work that has been done since. There are tents and food and a variety of other things there now. Once you see the people and work hand in hand with them, it allows you to sit back and say ‘wow, you’re doing something good here’.”

Photo spread in feature story "High care factor".