Working together: Czech, Coalition forces train Afghan Airmen on helicopter operations

Published Dec. 20, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez
U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan -- No language barrier can keep members of the Czech Air Force from training Afghan airmen on rotary aircraft, and partnering with Coalition forces to develop the Afghan Air Force.

Whatever languages they speak, using however many interpreters, the Czechs' mission here is clear: to advise Afghan aircrews on the safe and proper procedures of flying Mi-17 and Mi-35 aircraft.

Capt. Robert Rajtmajer, a Czech AF instructor pilot and member of the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, is on his second deployment training Afghan pilots here, and said he's seen a lot of progression with the mission.

"In comparison to my last tour, [the Afghan pilots'] flying skills are better," he said. "The thinking of the pilots and air crew is better and closer to our style."

The Czechs are deployed to Kabul as part of the 438th AEAS, a rotary aircraft advisory squadron comprised of United States, Czech, Croatian and Hungarian forces. Czech crews deploy here for 4.5 month tours. They are the front-line advisors to Afghan Airmen part of the Afghan Air Force Kabul Air Wing.

"We highly value the Czech Republic's contribution to the NATO Air Training Command," said U.S. Air Force Col. Mark Daley, commander of the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, NATO Air Training. "This mission would not be possible without the participation of our NATO partners such as the Czechs. They are vital to our continued success here."

Pilots, crew chiefs, flight engineers and gunners make up the aircrew of Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters. The crews work together to ensure proper procedures and checklists are followed before, during, and after flights. Pre-flight checks are one of the many procedures that, because of advising efforts, are now part of the Afghans' routine for flying.

"Our most important task here is advising the Afghans," said Capt. Ondrej Pecha, a Czech communications officer. "It means we observe them during the work and explain problems. We teach them according to [aircraft manuals]."

Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters are originally Russian aircraft, and are currently in the Czech Republic Air Force inventory, so their experience with the aircraft ensures the Afghans are being trained by experienced aircrew.

"The Czechs bring Mi-17 and Mi-35 expertise that our U.S. advisors do not have," Daley said. "We couldn't accomplish much of this mission without them."

The Czech aircrews conduct practice emergency-procedure flights that prepare Afghan aircrews in the event of in-flight emergencies. Gunners train firing at mountainside targets, familiarizing themselves with mounted M240 machine guns that flank both sides of the aircrafts.

Advising and training also gives the Czechs the opportunity to practice their own skills and broaden their experiences.

Maj. Josef Korinek, a Czech instructor pilot, said his team is expanding its knowledge and experience while working with Coalition forces. He added, "Sometimes the biggest barrier is language, but it's about experience ... so the people who go through this deployment or missions are skillful [afterward]."

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Dinicola, an instructor fight engineer with the 438th AEAS, works with the Czechs on advising Afghan air crews, and said the mission of advising is not only showing Afghans how to do something, but showing them the reasoning behind why they do it and why it's important.

Dinicola said the Afghan crews he works with are progressing.

"We have all Afghan crews that conduct their own missions now," he said. "We're pretty much getting them to sustain themselves with the basics of [flight] knowledge."

Rajtmajer left the new team with a few words of advice for a smooth transition as the current rotation of Czech advisors end their tour here, and a new crew prepares to pick up where they left off,.

"Stay polite to the Afghans; they are kind and clever," he said. "Fly safely and follow the basic rules of flying. Stay alive."