Under the Cover of Darkness - Afghan Mi-17 aircrew fly with Night Vision Goggles

Published Aug. 24, 2010
By Capt. Rob Leese
438th AEW PAO

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Afghan Air Force aircrew flew for the first time using Night Vision Goggles within Afghanistan and completed the first operational tasking at the end of the flight on Aug. 22, 2010.

Afghan Airmen went to an austere unlit landing zone, with a blacked-out Mi-17 transport helicopter. The Afghan crew performed basic maneuvers to regain currency in NVG operations from take-offs, landings, tactical flight and in-air emergency procedures.

This is practice for the 24 hour, seven-day- a-week support required by to the Presidential Protective Service. This will allow the AAF's Presidential Airlift Squadron to use the cover of darkness to help conceal Presidential movements.

The initial cadre of the Afghan crews will consist of four pilots and two flight engineers. All the cadre underwent NVG initial training at Fort Bliss, Texas, in 2007, but up until this point, there has not been a requirement for the AAF to use this capability within the Afghanistan.

"With this upcoming requirement, it gave the Afghans more realistic training. We were able to generate this training very quickly and well ahead of what was initially scheduled," said Staff Sgt. Lee Tincher, flight equipment advisor.

NVG training for the Afghan life-support technicians will consist of an intensive two-week course at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, taught by the Combined Airpower Transition Force aircrew flight equipment advisors. This removes Afghan Airmen from daily distractions to focus on the technical aspects of the NVGs.

Significant challenges were not flight related but logistical. One hurdle was the medical necessity of correcting vision to 20/20 eyesight. Eye exams were given at the French hospital on the ISAF Joint Command base and in conjunction with Bagram Airfield's optical laboratory. This provided Afghans eyeglasses and made it a coalition effort.

The night training occured during the month of Ramazan showing the resolve of the Afghans to place national security above personal interests. During Ramazan, Muslims do not eat from dusk to dawn.

The first crews are slated for qualification on the NVGs by mid-September, which enhances the capability of the AAF.

"Given the time that has elapsed from their training at Fort Bliss, their skill level was exceptional. During both the training and real-world tasking, their integration with U.S. crew members led to flawless mission accomplishment," said Lt. Col. Greg Roberts, 438th Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron commander.

The NVG capability already proved useful to Afghan Airmen as the crew responded to a possible downed aircraft situation. They conducted a 15-minute search in the mountains surrounding Kabul International Airport for the last known aircraft location as reported by air traffic control.