Published: November 03, 2008
IAF receive 4 new MI17 helicopters
by Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt
CAB PAO, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B
CAMP TAJI, Iraq - The Iraqi Air Force received four new MI17 helicopters on Camp Taji to add to its fleet of more than 50 rotary wing aircraft throughout Iraq.
The IAF have begun beefing-up their fleet of Huey and MI17 helicopters; in the past eight months, the IAF has grown in capabilities from just one helicopter to the fleet it currently possess.
Airmen from the IAF have been training with U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 770th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron, Coalition Air Force Transition Team, Multi-National Division - Baghdad.
A new Russian-made MI17 helicopter lands on Camp Taji. The IAF received four new helicopters to add to its fleet of more than 50 rotary winged aircraft throughout Iraq in the past eight months.
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"We are teaching them flying, door gunning, maintenance and loading the weapons systems," said Air Force Master Sgt. Warren McCullough, from Harrison, Ark, who serves as the flight safety and squadron first sergeant. "The school house we have here on Camp Taji teaches the Iraqis basic English, multiple aviation occupational specialties and hands on training over here on the airfield."
The Airmen from Eglin Air Force Base, based in Florida, are on a one-year tour teaching the Iraqi airmen how to perform full-spectrum aviation operations. The school classifies the Iraqis in three skill categories - level-three, level-five and level-seven.
A new Russian-made MI17 helicopter sits on Camp Taji while Iraqi Air Force airmen and U.S. Air Force Airmen look through the new piece of equipment recently acquired for the IAF. The IAF received the four new helicopters to add to its fleet of more than 50 rotary winged aircraft throughout Iraq in the past eight months.
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Level-three is an Iraqi airman who has just started the training and has to have supervision at all times while performing his duties. A level-five airman is similar to a noncommissioned officer or junior officer in the U.S. Air Force, who can perform duties with little or no supervision. Level-seven are supervisors, such as senior NCOs or senior officers, who are capable of performing duties with no supervision. Level-seven requires years of schooling and experience. The majority of Iraqi airmen at the school are level-three and level-five trainees.
"These (new helicopters) will help us tremendously," said IAF Col. Salam Hassan, commander of Squad 15 on Camp Taji. "They will support the special forces through transporting and in the future combat operations when we have completed our training.
Iraqi Air Force airmen rejoice after four new MI17 helicopters arrived on Camp Taji. The new helicopters add to its fleet of more than 50 throughout Iraq in the past eight months.
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"The Americans help with everything, to include training and operations," said the jubilant Iraqi colonel on the camp north of Baghdad. "I think the training is very good, and the American pilots have a lot of experience."
Although much smaller, the MI17 helicopters are compared much to the American CH-47F Chinook helicopters in terms of how they are used. They are Russian-made and are used for transporting personal, equipment and combat operations, such as air assaults and air insertion missions.
Iraqi Air Force Gen. Mohamed Sada, commander of the IAF on Camp Taji, celebrates by shooting blanks in the air with the arrival of four new MI17 helicopters on Camp Taji.
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Currently, the aircraft are being used by the United Nations, the Czech Air Force, the Royal Thai Army, Saudi Arabia and of course Russia.
"Our job is to train and advice this counter-terrorism squadron," said Lt. Col. William Rowell, director of operations. "We expect 22 more MI17 helicopters by the end of the year. By 2010, their fleet will grow substantially."
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