UK training gives pilots great start

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

AIRCREW from C Sqn, 5 Avn Regt, spent a week in the UK using a state-of-the-art Chinook simulator before deploying to Afghanistan.

MLH Tp commander said that after sorting out the differences between the cockpits of Australian and UK Chinooks, the training began.

He said the entire aircrew who deployed ran through the simulators, giving very realistic training in a tactical simulated environment.

“It’s one of the best simulators around for its similarity to the Afghanistan flying environment. We did training in the dust where there were problems with visibility, as well as take-off and landings and we used tactical overlays,” he said.

“The aircrew thought the training was of immense benefit to them.”

ADF aircrew are regularly sent to the States to use US simulators and, as in this case, to the UK. They also complete yearly high-altitude training in Papua New Guinea, which has also helped prepare them for Afghanistan.

The aircrew also spent time at the aviation medical facility in Adelaide.

The troop commander said the aircrew had been as prepared as possible for their deployment to Afghanistan.