Approval for Multinational Aviation Training Centre in Czech Republic
Source: Czech Ministry of Defence, 01-Jun-12
The Chicago NATO Summit, held 20 and 21 May 2012, agreed the Czech project to create and lead the Multinational Aviation Training Centre for allied air forces within the Smart Defence initiative to share capabilities. The Czech Republic has been a lead country of the HIP Helicopter Task Force Initiative since 2009, and an administrator [...]
NATO/ISAF comment on changes brought by unmanned K-Max operations
Source: ISAF, 21-May-12
Improvised explosive devices have changed the way the Marine Corps engages hostile forces. The need has risen for supplies to reach the most remote parts of Afghanistan quickly, reliably and safely. Late last year, the Corps began experimenting with the K-MAX – an unmanned helicopter, able to transport large amounts of cargo and reduce the [...]
Afghanistan accepts six MD530Fs
Source: NATO, 21-Dec-11
Flight instructors at Shindand Air Base have completed acceptance flights on six MD 530F Helicopters that will be used to train Afghan pilots. Each helicopter was flown in the local air space for one hour and all aircraft systems were checked to include radios, GPS, navigation systems, rotor tracking and overall airworthiness. Classes are scheduled [...]
Maintenance advisers certify first Afghan Air Force expediter
Source: NATO, 08-Dec-11
Maintenance advisers recently certified the first Afghan Air Force flight line expediter at Kandahar Air Wing. A direct maintenance commander delegate on the flight line, an expediter is responsible for efficiently utilizing manning and resources to effectively execute the flight schedule agreed upon by both maintainers and operators. Advisers indicate the new capability will ensure [...]
NATO agency approves NH90 TTH configuration
Source: Eurocopter, 09-Nov-11
The NH90 program has reached a major milestone with the declaration of compliance for the NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) variant’s Final Operational Configuration, This marks the NH-90 TTH’s development completion, and enables deliveries to begin before year-end in the helicopter’s full operational definition. “The milestone marks the most important achievement in the life of [...]
Afghan conducts first air counter-narcotics mission
Source: NATO, 26-Aug-11
Members of the Afghan Ministry of Interior’s Air Interdiction Unit met a major milestone today with the completion of their first fully-integrated counter narcotics operation alongside a coalition aircrew. The mission, originating from the Afghan Air Force compound in Kabul, was flown by Afghan AIU Special Forces pilots and—according to AIU officials—aimed at destroying illegal [...]
Russia, NATO to set up trust fund for Mil helicopter maintenance
Source: RIA Novosti, 06-Jun-11
Russia and NATO will sign an agreement on setting up a trust fund for maintenance of Mil helicopters in Europe by the end of 2011, according to a deputy director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation
NATO Allies and Russia put their trust in Afghan Air Force
Source: NATO, 28-Apr-11
Thanks to the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) Helicopter Maintenance Trust Fund, the Afghan Air Force is receiving the tools to operate its helicopter fleet more efficiently. Launched on 2 March 2011, the NRC Trust Fund is managed in accordance with established policy and under the overall supervision of the NRC Preparatory Committee, with Germany acting as [...]
Former helicopter pilot leads NATO mission in Libya
Source: NATO, 30-Mar-11
Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, deputy commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, has been designated head of the alliance’s military campaign in Libya. Lieutenant-General Bouchard enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1974 under the Officer Candidate Training Plan. He underwent pilot training graduating in 1976 as a helicopter pilot. Lieutenant-General Bouchard flew [...]
814 Naval Air Squadron takes part in NATO’s Exercise Proud Manta
Source: Royal Navy, 08-Feb-11
A Royal Navy helicopter squadron is taking part in NATO’s largest Mediterranean anti-submarine exercise, Proud Manta, for the first time. Merlin Mk1 maritime patrol helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron (also known as ‘The Flying Tigers’) have flown 1,400 miles (2,250km) across Europe from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Helston, Cornwall, to Sicily in [...]
Eurocopter expects NATO approval for NH90 by January
Source: Reuters, 06-Dec-10
Eurocopter chief executive Lutz Bertling has said he expects final approval from NATO’s procurement agency Nahema for the NH90 transport helicopter
Afghan Mi-35s start operations with NATO forces
Source: NATO Training Mission, 02-Sep-10
The Mi-35 Hind E attack helicopter is the Afghan Air Force’s main gunship with Afghan aircrews trained by NATO forces from various countries including Hungary and the Czech Republic. The adage: crawl, walk, run often describes military training and the Afghan Mi-35 crews are in the walking phase, building confidence to take control of the [...]
Afghan Air Force performs Mi-17 sling load
Source: NATO Training Mission, 05-Jul-10
On July 1, 2010, the Afghan Air Force and Combined Air Power Transition Force advisors conducted an operational sling load with the Mi-17 transport helicopter from Kabul International Airport to Orgun-e in the Paktika province. Flying 12,500 feet above sea-level and carrying a 3,200 lbs. crate, the Mi-17 helicopter handled the load with very few [...]
Nine NATO countries sign declaration of intent for Mi-17 helicopter initiative
Source: ISRIA, 27-Oct-09
The Declaration of Intent was signed by the Czech Republic, Albania, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and the UK. This will provide the necessary political mandate to start mitigating critical utility helicopter shortfalls, particularly in the conduct of ISAF operations in Afghanistan.
EU, NATO should more cooperate on helicopter use, says Czech minister
Source: Ceske Noviny, 14-Mar-09
