Chooks fly in Afghan support

Flight preparations: Cfns Jeremy Summers and Darren Speck work to rebuild an Aussie Chinook upon arrival in Afghanistan.

By Lt Simone Heyer
Volume 11, No. 41, April 20, 2006

AUSTRALIA’S contribution to Task Force Knighthawk has begun with the first combat-support aerial replenishment mission in late March.

A 5 Avn Regt Chinook from Task Group 637.3 – the aviation regiment’s support to Op Slipper – joined a similar US helicopter for the several-hour flight in Afghanistan.

OC TG637.3, who was the air-mission commander for the flight, said the mission was a success on many levels.

“It was something we have trained and planned for over many months and today marked the day we put it all into practice,” he said.

“It also means that now we’re entirely embedded into the US Task Force [Knighthawk] – a combined-arms operation in a coalition setting.”

The OC said that completing the first mission before the Defence Minister’s deadline was testament to the strength of the Australian task group.

XO TG637.3 Capt Mike Whitney said the mission was the culmination of two weeks of preparation in reassembling and testing the Chinooks.

He said the aircraft’s recent modifications, as a result of a rapid acquisition process, were all working as planned.

The aircraft, with a full Australian crew, was prepared the night before its first mission by dedicated ground crew.

The Australian Aviation Task Group, based at Kandahar Airfield, is providing troop lift capabilities, heavy equipment movement, supply transport and aeromedical evacuation support to coalition forces.

Capt Whitney said the joint Task Force Knighthawk missions would become a regular occurrence.

Already the Chinooks and their crews have received high praise from the overall commander, US Army Lt-Col Mark Patterson.
“Everything they do is on par or better than our current forces here in theatre,” he said.

“On several missions, I’ve put the Australian aircraft in charge of US aircraft because of their capabilities. And that’s in the very first week of their employment.”

He told the 5 Avn Regt members he had worked with Australians in the past and knew all about their superb professionalism.
“I know what you’re capable of. We can learn a lot from each other.,” he said.

Capt Whitney said the Australian pilots were enjoying their missions in the area of operation – which was as diverse as Australia.

“The landscape of Afghanistan is amazing – mountains, deserts and deep valleys. It is an amazing place for our pilots and crews to fly.”

The Australian mission at Kandahar is supporting the Special Operations Task Group already operating in the country and may continue until late November to support the Australian Reconstruction Team that will be deployed later this year.