1419 Flt - Wizards in Afghanistan's Green Zone

28 (Army Cooperation) Squadron B Flight arrived at Bastion Airfield in late May 2010. Following many detachments in Iraq over the past 5 years, this was their first taste of Afghanistan. They arrived with the bit between their teeth and were raring to get stuck into the new adventure ahead, albeit the crews were a little apprehensive given the environment which they found themselves in. Following the initial mandatory admin procedures and a very long day sitting on a hot rifle range, the aircrew from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire took to the skies and flew towards the green zone for the first time.

45 degree ambient temperatures mean that the cockpit and cabin of the aircraft is around 50 degrees. Add safety equipment, thermal fire protection, gloves and helmet and the result is some very hot and sweaty individuals. A great deal of water is consumed during any shift by the crews.

Loadmaster Sergeant Jock Forrester mans the general purpose machine gun (GPMG) on a Merlin helicopter.
Photo: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010

Landing sites in Helmnd Province vary dramatically between purpose-built, football pitch sized, tarmac areas to dust bowls; pilots regularly carry out the final stages of approaches almost blind. There are landing sites in the green zone with trees all around and there are landing sites on the pinnacles of mountains resulting in few hovering references for the handling pilots whilst operating at the limits of the aircrafts performance. All of the sites have their own challenges and the complexities encountered when landing within them cannot be understated or taken for granted at any time.

On the rare occasion that the Merlin can’t make it in to a landing site due to inclement weather or unserviceability then another helicopter and another crew will pick up the slack highlighting that the Joint Force Element which is operating in Helmand including RAF, Army and Navy works, and works incredibly well.

The Flight Engineers have worked 12 hour shifts every day since arriving in theatre. They have the unenviable task of trying to maintain the Merlin helicopters which are being flown in the most unforgivable of environments. The dust intake, the high altitude and the challenging flying puts a great strain on the Merlin, yet day after day the engineering force of 1419 Flt produce serviceable aircraft to operate with.

A Merlin lands at a FOB
Photo: Maj Paul Smyth/MOD

The squadron has had a detachment in Afghanistan fraught with the ‘expected’ unforeseen issues that arise during such a venture. They have worked every day in the heat and the dust and have achieved everything that they have been tasked with and more. The engineers have worked for 10 weeks without a whole day off. It is now time to go home, reunite with loved ones and enjoy some well deserved time off. As B Flight hand over to C Flight this week they reflect on a job well done.

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RAF helicopter crews train for Afghanistan in Jordanian desert

Royal Air Force helicopter crews have been training in the Jordanian desert for the first time in preparation for operations in Afghanistan and to develop relations with the Royal Jordanian Air Force.

A Chinook is accompanied by two Merlin helicopters during Exercise Desert Vortex

Over 300 personnel from RAF Benson and RAF Odiham, many preparing to go to Afghanistan for the first time, took part in Exercise Desert Vortex in Jordan.

Wing Commander John Watson was the Detachment Commander during the month-long exercise at King Faisal Air Base near Amman.

He said: "This is the first bilateral training exercise between the Royal Jordanian Air Force and elements of our Joint Helicopter Force. We have had six Chinooks from RAF Odiham and three Merlins from RAF Benson, along with aircrew, engineers and support staff from the two stations.

"There were three main reasons to use Jordan; to develop relationships with their Air Force, to carry out pre-deployment training for Afghanistan and to provide environmental training in realistic and similar conditions to those we will face on operations."

A Merlin crew practises night flying with underslung loads during Exercise Desert Vortex

For many of the newly-qualified pilots, this was the first time they had experienced flying in desert conditions.

Chinook pilot Flying Officer Tom Knapp has recently joined 18 Squadron at RAF Odiham and is due to deploy in August. He said:

"You can't replicate these conditions in the UK. The thin air means the engines and aircraft have to work much harder, and the dust and humidity out here are very similar to that which we will face in Afghanistan, making this a great training opportunity.

"I am a little bit apprehensive but at the same time I am really looking forward to actually getting out there and doing the job that I have been trained to do.

"I'm keeping an open mind about what I might find out in Afghanistan - from what I have heard it will be challenging and I know I will be faced with things I haven't experienced before. But I love handling the Chinook. In particular I enjoy the dust landings, and working with the crew and engineers."

For pilots to complete a dust landing they rely on the assistance of the rear crew - the loadmasters - such as Sergeant Rebecca Nicholls from 18 Squadron.

Sergeant Rebecca Nicholls, a loadmaster from 18 Squadron

Sergeant Nicholls explained:

"Dust landings are when we come into an area where the pilots can lose sight of references on the ground - the dust cloud envelopes the whole of the aircraft, making it difficult for the pilots to see.

"We become the pilot's eyes; we tell them how far off the ground we are, and whether there is any danger to be aware of."

Sergeant Nicholls also explained the role of a loadmaster:

"Basically we are in charge of anything that goes on in the back - troops coming on or off, freight carried inside or beneath the helicopter, and we also assist the pilots in navigating.

Merlin practising operating with underslung loads

"Underslung loads are when we carry a load underneath - the pilots are looking out the front, they can't see what's going on beneath the aircraft, so we are essentially a 'satellite navigation' system for them; we tell them where they need to be above the load, whether they are too high, too low, if they need to come right or left a bit."

In the last three years Sergeant Nicholls has already clocked up three winter tours in Afghanistan, and will be going out this year during the summer:

"Going to Afghanistan has become normal for me now; it's become part of my life. I know that every ten months I'll be going out for two months, but I enjoy my job - it's active and interesting," she said.

Alongside the Chinook crews were 90 instructors, aircrew and engineers from RAF Benson.

Squadron Leader Mark Biggadike from 78 Squadron oversaw the Merlin Force part of the exercise:

"We've been training Merlin pilots and crewmen who have never operated in a desert before," he said.

"It's quite a step up for the new guys, they have come straight out of training onto the Merlin Force, and this is their first time operating the aircraft in these kinds of conditions.

"At a higher altitude the air is thinner, and it's hot, so training to fly in Jordan is invaluable. Learning how to land in dust clouds and fly at night in very low light conditions are areas we have been concentrating on.

"As a result of this exercise in Jordan we now have another team of environmentally-qualified aircrew who will be ready for deployment to Afghanistan. During their time in Jordan, the Merlins have clocked up in excess of 230 flying hours, and carried out more than 900 dust landings - the training has gone very well."

Pictures: SAC Neil Chapman & SAC Andy Masson RAF

We fight for their freedom and so that we may continue to enjoy ours

Personnel from RAF Benson have been deployed on operations for the last decade. This year, following the deployment of Merlin helicopters to Afghanistan, over 130 RAF Benson personnel will be deployed worldwide over Christmas; the majority of whom will be on Operation Herrick.

Our personnel will be deployed this Christmas supporting UK ground troops who are essential to prevent Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for terrorists who would threaten the UK. It is helicopters from the UK and Coalition Forces that assist NATO Land Forces in this mission, be it transporting troops to forward operating bases, re-supplying troops away from main operating bases, or airlifting casualties to medical facilities in the quickest time possible.

Service personnel give their utmost when performing the tasks they have been asked to undertake by the Queen and Country they signed up to serve. Some pay the ultimate sacrifice and their families and loved ones are always in our thoughts and prayers; they are true heroes and we all owe them a debt of gratitude.

We should not forget that today there are thousands of men and women in Afghanistan from the British Armed Forces and they deserve our support. The men and women from the Merlin Force and other Station personnel will be on duty this Christmas ready to assist the ground forces at a moment’s notice, as they always are.

Armed Forces personnel are in this for the long haul because they believe in what they are doing; they believe they can help to bring stability to the people of Afghanistan. Their resolve is strengthened even further by the support they receive from the people at home.

Being deployed on operations to places like Afghanistan is difficult as Personnel are away from family and friends, with limited contact, for prolonged periods in a dangerous environment. Being deployed at this time of year is especially hard as Christmas is often viewed as a time to be with your family and loved ones.

RAF Benson’s top priority is to look after the families of our deployed personnel over this period. We currently have a number of ways we offer support to the families including a Christmas party for the children of deployed personnel and other welfare support.

We would urge everyone to spare a thought for our personnel and those of the other services who will be away from home this Christmas, and for all the Armed Forces personnel who will be fighting for stability in support of the Afghan army in Afghanistan. We fight for their freedom and so that we may continue to enjoy ours. We do so without requesting any thanks but ask for your continued support and understanding. The support we receive from the people at home really does make a difference.

Wing Commander Rob Norris, Chief of Staff at Royal Air Force Benson