Base visit Megara
The Hellenic Army Aviation base Megara is situated south of the city at
the bay of Megara to the west of Athens.
The airbase was founded after the second world war. In those day’s Greek
Army Aviation was being formed. The task in these first years was
artillery observation. In 1950 Army Aviation became independent from
the Air Force. In the late 1960’s the first UH1 were delivered and
helicopter lift became one of the tasks.
Megara is home to the 2nd Army Aviation Group with two
transport helicopter battalions. 4 TEAS using the CH47D and 2TEAS using
the UH1H. The Huey is an older helicopter but still good at its job and
very much liked by its crew. Most of the Chinooks have been fitted with
shaff/flare dispensers and IRW receivers. They can easily be recognized
by there pointed radar nose. 4 TEAS also utilizes the C12 for
observation, mapping and VIP duties.
Megara is being modernized.
In the near future the UH1 will be replaced by the NH90. The NH90 is a
very capable helicopter and well suited for the tasks of now but the
good old Huey will be missed as it is a very reliable helicopter.
Megara is also home to the first new AH64D ‘s. As they have not yet
been fully accepted by the Greek Army they are not operational yet.
Pilots for the Delta model of the Apache will come from the AH64A and
the UH1. Basic training is done in the USA. Because the Greek country
site is very divers the operational terrain flying training is done in
Greece. The range they use to train their pilots is said to be so
difficult that other country’s using the Apache do not want to train
there. Our host assured us however that this would be the perfect
preparation for mission abroad where the countryside is not flat either.
At this moment Greek Army Aviation is not involved in any internal
operations. In the past they have been “policing “the Balkans in Kosovo
and Bosnia. As the Greek traditionally have ties with the Balkans they
can do the job very well. They provide stability in the region. Greece
has proven to be the most stable country in the region. Apart from that,
Geece is one of the main doors to Europe. Even though they are not
internationally involved at this moment Greek Army Aviation is part of
NATO and when asked they will stand up to the job and perform it
professionally. As our contact said: you know your helicopter, you know
how it flies. You do the task given to you and you do it save so you can
come back to a new task on a new day.
Important in doing the job successfully is planning, judgment and
experience. Judgment is something you have that can be developed
further. Experience comes from years of training.
An important mission in Greece is fire fighting. This used to be done by
Army Aviation as well. This however took up to much of the defence
capacity so specialist aircraft were purchased: the CL215 and later the
CL415. Another problem was the water capacity of the UH1. It cannot
carry a full Bambi Bucket.
Another important task is Search And Rescue. To do this as efficiently
as possible control of the SAR activities is centralized. When a call
comes in the central will decided who is send. They can give the mission
to the Army, Navy or the Air Force. Depending on the kind of emergency,
the type of helicopter needed and the location the central makes the
call to one of the units.
If there is one thing that became clear during our visit it is that the
material in use is not so important. It is the spirit of the men who fly
it that counts |