T-407 pilot program takes off

Published May 1, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake
321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- The Iraq Army Aviation Command took another step toward self-sufficiency after Iraqi T-407 helicopter instructor pilots flew their first mission without U.S. advisors April 28.

The T-407 milestone comes four months after Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Hill and Major Kevin Ferner from the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron began training more than twenty pilots from IqAAC's Squadron 21.

"This is a big deal for Squadron 21's organic capability to train its own pilots," explained Major Ferner, an Army UH-60 Blackhawk instructor pilot for the Pennsylvania National Guard and former Marine CH-46 Sea Knight pilot. "Next week, the first Iraqi [T-407] instructor pilot will start the basic air qualifications course with four students."

Last December, U.S. advisors delivered three Bell T-407 trainer aircraft to Camp Taji in an effort to build up a cadre of experienced pilots who will eventually fly an armed version of the helicopter.

IqAAC purchased two dozen of the armed scout variant of the Bell-407 for nearly $400 million last year. According to Iraq Security Assistance Mission advisors who facilitate foreign military sales from the United States, delivery of the first shipment of the armed IA-407 is expected by the end of this year.

In the meantime, Mr. Hill and Major Ferner have been working feverishly to train up squadron pilots on basic helicopter maneuvers like hovering, taxiing, taking off and landing, conducting emergency procedures and flight formations. In their first month in Iraq, both of the pilots tallied up more than 140 flight hours.

"While the Iraqis can't conduct real world missions without the IA-407, we can still train their pilots so that when [the aircraft] shows up, they'll be well on their way," explained Mr. Hill, a Nebraska Army National Guardsman from Grand Island.

Mr. Hill, a 15-year veteran OH-58 Kiowa pilot with experience patrolling the southern border of the United States, said the armed IA-407 helicopters could be used to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions as well as provide security overwatch for Iraqi troops in contact with hostile forces.

In the coming weeks, Mr. Hill and Major Ferner plan to start the next phase of instruction with the senior T-407 pilots as they test their ability to fly using night-vision goggles. Major Ferner said the training team's goal is to have the initial cadre of T-407 pilots certified on night-vision goggles by the end of May. After that, the two pilots said they will start the early stages of mission training as they prepare for the arrival of the armed aircraft.

On the ground, Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeff Wright, the T-407's only active duty maintenance advisor and first team member to arrive at the 721st AEAS last year, has been training the Iraqi pilots and maintainers aircraft maintenance fundamentals. He also helps his Iraqi partners integrate with several U.S. contractors who help maintain the fleet of three T-407s.

The 11-year veteran maintainer deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., said teaching Iraqis how to maintain the T-407 is a lot easier than teaching them to maintain the HH-60 Pave Hawks he works on back home.

"The T-407 is a simple aircraft," explained the Franklin, Idaho, native. "They have to study one large maintenance book for the T-407 versus the three large books I had to read maintaining the Pave Hawk and larger helicopters."

Like all three members of the team, Sergeant Wright said he volunteered for the job here in Iraq.

"After six deployments, I wanted to do something different," he explained. "Some of the guys who had deployed here for advisor missions before me said they loved it, so I volunteered."

After serving his six month tour in-country, Sergeant Wright volunteered to stay for a few more months.

"The interaction we have with the Iraqis and the job satisfaction of trying to help Iraq rebuild their military capabilities has been a great experience," he said. "There's never a dull moment."

Sergeant Wright said his experiences here and the camaraderie in his joint team has led him to pursue a career as a warrant officer pilot in the U.S. Army when he returns home.

"I couldn't have asked for a better team here," he said. "I wish I could take these pilots back home with me."