 U.S. Military
Command Aviation Company A, 3rd Battalion, 238th Regiment, headquartered in Newcastle, Del., began its mobilization training at Fort Sill, Okla., in November, 2009, with trainers from 1-291st Aviation Training Support Battalion, 166th Aviation Brigade, First Army Division West. In mid-December, Capt. William White, Company A commander, received notification of a change of theater. Iraq's dusty environment poses a unique challenge to Army aviation because of brownouts caused by the helicopter rotor wash, which is based on the aircraft weight and can exceed 90 mph. Afghanistan has dust, too, but its high altitude is "much less forgiving," said Lt. Col. Paul Belobrajdic, senior trainer and commander of the 1-291st Aviation Training Support Battalion. Fortunately, the 166th Aviation Brigade's partnership with Bode Aviation at Double Eagle II Airport outside of Albuquerque, N.M., provides logistical support for units heading to Iraq or Afghanistan while they conduct desert and high altitude flight operations in a multi-use area operated by nearby Kirtland Air Force Base. "It really replicates the Afghan environment. The elevation at Double Eagle II is nearly 6,000 feet above mean sea level, which is about the same as Bagram Air Base," said White. The crews make dust landings at the area's base elevation during the day to practice the maneuvers before flying at night with night vision goggles, which is especially challenging in the extremely low illumination and contrast provided by terrain. Next, the crews practice landing on small flat areas of mountain tops called pinnacles, which brings other challenges, such as unique weather phenomena and dramatically reduced lift due to the thin air. "They have to understand the flying techniques, effects of weather and power management," said White. The unit sent four instructor pilots and two crew chiefs to the High Altitude Army Aviation Training Site in Gypsum, Colo., prior to the unit's training in New Mexico to train the remaining aircrew in high altitude flight techniques. "The training isn't just about the pilots - it's about coordination with the crew chiefs and door gunners, who serve as the eyes of the aircraft," said Spc. Craig Wensell, a Company A crew chief. "It's our job to observe and communicate with the pilots so they can safely land the aircraft." The 166th Aviation Brigade, which is responsible for all Army Reserve and National Guard aviation training for deployment, will be using the site more and more as the focus shifts to Afghanistan. "Up until now, 80-90 percent of our mobilizations were for Iraq. Soon, 80-90 percent of the units will be training for Afghanistan," said Belobrajdic. "It's extremely valuable training" said Sgt. Rob Morneau, a Company A crew chief, "most of us are Iraq veterans from Delaware - neither of those places could have prepared us for flying in Afghanistan." |
