Posted on 02/10/2005 1:06:28 PM PST by Magnum44
Iraqi pilots get first-time C-130 training
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A five-man crew from Squadron 23 of the Iraqi Air Force trained for the first time on flying and operating an American C-130 cargo plane outside of Iraq’s air space.
A crew of U.S. Air Force pilots used a five-hour round-trip flight to Amman, Jordan as a training exercise for the Iraqi pilots and crew members. Five other crews from Squadron 23, of Ali Base in Talil, Iraq, were passengers on the flight, heading to training in Jordan. One crew will continue traveling to the U.S. for Hercules simulator training in Little Rock, Ark., said Wing Cmdr. Robert Greene, of the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq.
All of the squadron members are experienced crews who are strengthening and expanding their skills after a 12-year lapse under Saddam Hussein’s rule, Greene said. This was their first time in the seats of a C-130, he added.
The next phase of training will focus on dealing with emergencies, approaches and landings, and general flying skills.
Please Fix Title, It double posted.
Good for them Good for them.
I'm glad I'm glad
"The next phase of training will focus on...landings"
Good news when you're talking about Arab pilots.
What article did not say: One USAF crew member was detailed to watch their heading in case, out of habit, the Iraq pilot tried to shag it to Iran.
What article did not say: One USAF crew member was detailed to watch their heading in case, out of habit, the Iraq pilot tried to shag it to Iran.
I have several friends who work at the Littlerock, AFB C-130 Flight Simulator Training Facility. They will have some wild stories to talk about this training, I"m sure of. Arab pilot's are known to do some crazy things like taking their hands off the flight controls, to pray to Allah, if it appears they are going to crash in the Flight Simulator.
I've even heard stories where an Arab Flight Crew will leave the cockpit and run to the back of the plane to pray if they think they are going to crash. THe dead crew were found in the tail end of the aircraft.
The C-130 Flight Center I worked at trained the Kuwait C-130 Flight Crews and they were some of the best crews in the World. Of course the USAF and Israel AF crews rule the skies.
herk
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