Swedish Helicopter Wing begin flying in Djibouti
The Swedish Helicopter Wing has begun flying in Djibouti in preparation for the begining of operations in mid-April.
The two AW109s arrived in Djibouti two days ago and engineers have been working to prepare the aircraft for flight including bolting on rotor-blades.
Flying for Operation Atalanta begins on 15 April, the helicopters will be operating in and around the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea as well as off the coast of Somalia and out towards the Seychelles islands. Helicopters will also be able to transport personnel between ship and deal with medical emergencies.
The aircraft will operate from the Swedish warship HMS Carlskrona.
The first flight of the Swedish helicopter in Djibouti was a key moment for the unit.
The flight meant an early start for the crew. At 0600 they were on the French base for the briefing, where a French officer told the crew about the conditions of the day. The weather was good as usual, but he warned of winds at a place called the Devil's rock.
An enhanced checklist which, among other things was water, maps, emergency and desert road map look was reviewed one last time.
After a few checks and a little hover it was time to taxi out.
Approximately one hour later the aircraft came back. Happy and satisfied, the crew climbed out of the machine. A flight that may be placed in the Helikopter Wing historical album was finished. Now the crew face a period of intensive training in this climate, of heat, salt and sand.
Source: Swedish Armed Forces
More from Defence Helicopter
-
![Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine]()
Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine
Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.
-
![Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook]()
Boeing secures $271 million to advance modernisation of US Special Operations' MH-47G Chinook
Boeing has clinched a major contract modification to further its backing of the US Special Operations Command’s MH-47G Chinook aircraft modernisation effort.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut]()
Dubai Airshow 2023: South Korean homegrown helicopters make international debut
Two KAI helicopters, the KUH-1E utility helicopter and the Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), have taken centre stage at the Dubai Airshow 2023.
-
![Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter]()
Italian Navy receives final NH90 helicopter
The Italian Navy now boasts a fleet of 56 NH90 helicopters comprising 46 SH-90As and 10 MH-90As.
-
![Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters]()
Argentina seeks AW109 and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters
The Argentinian Air Force (FAA) and the Argentinian Naval Aviation Command (COAN) are looking for options to upgrade their helicopter fleets.
-
![DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest]()
DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.
