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The Weapon Instructor Standardisation 2021 exercise at Rijswijk (GE)
A Helicopter Weapons Instructor refreshment Course was held by the
Defence Helicopter Command of the Royal Netherlands Air Force last May.
Participating in the three day course where : 298 squadron with its
CH-47D/F Chinook, 300 squadron with the AS532U2 Cougar and 301 squadron
with the AH-64D Apache.
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During the
exercise the transport element of the group landed in small
meadows under the watchful eye of the Apache AH-64D |
Weapons Instructor refresh course
The goal of this training is to keep the skills annually up to date
as a Weapons Instructor for the Dutch Helicopter Command helicopter
crews. The training took place on two different landing zones near the
villages of Rijswijk and Wijk bij Duurstede in the Dutch Betuwe area.
During this training one mission was flown per day. The crews made
several tactical landings in a field and experience an enemy treat at
this location two locations. As an added tread PC-7 training aircraft
assigned to 131 Squadron from Woensdrecht took part in the training by
attacking the helicopter formation during transit to the target area.
The training for the Weapon Instructor Course is taken care of by the
TACTES department of the 299 squadron of The Defence Helicopter Command
based at Gilze Rijen airbase. 299 squadron normally uses the helicopters
of the 298, 300 and 301 squadron for flight training. .
To become a Helicopter Weapon Instructor and being selected for the
Helicopter Weapon Instructor Course, pilots have to be at least section
leaders, which means being able to lead a flight of three helicopters.
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It was the first
time the “new” CH-47F flew a mission during an exercise. The
CH-47D are being take out of operational service in order to
be replaced by the CH-47F. The CH-47F is similar to the
CH-47F being used by the US Army |
Participants need to have multiple years of experience with their
squadron; the urge to learn new things and improve themselves is a
must for every participant. Other criteria include day and night
time flying and weapons qualified. After completed Helicopter Weapon
Instructor course they return to the squadrons where they will
operate as weapon instructors.
The Helicopter Weapon Instructor course doesn’t only qualify the
flying crews but also the loadmasters and gunners on the transport
helicopters. Both the Cougar and Chinook can be armed with machine
guns to provide cover to the helicopter or the ground forces.
Within all three squadrons at least two but with a maximum of four
aircrews need to be Helicopter Weapon Instructor qualified, as
addition for AS532U2 and CH-47D/F the same applies for the
loadmasters. For the AH-64D Apache crews of the 301 Squadron only
pilots are selected.
The training not only contains fixed scenarios, the students are
also confronted with unexpected situations, that have to be solved
while flying the mission. Being able to deal with these
uncertainties is very important skill for a military pilot,
loadmaster and gunners.
After the Helicopter Weapon Instructor course, the participants will
be qualified Weapon Instructors, which means they will be able to
execute evaluations during tactical training and exercises, become a
tactical expert and will be able to advise commanders on a tactical
level.
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The course offers
the participating air crews the opportunity to train
as a combined force which would also take
place in real world scenarios. |
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