will help train qualified Iraqi Army pilots to operate and maintain the Iraqi Armed 407 Armed Scout Helicopters which are scheduled to be fielded by the end of 2011. photo: U.S. Army Spc. Amie J. McMillan
The recent arrival of three Bell T-407 train-
ing helicopters at Camp Taji will help to train qualified Iraqi Army pilots to operate and main- tain the helicopters, as well as, rapidly accelerate the fielding and utilization of Iraqi Armed 407 Armed Scout Helicopters which are scheduled to be fielded by the end of 2011. “To receive the aircraft is something like a
dream that became a reality,” said Lt. Col. Abbas, a commander and instructor pilot with 21st Squadron, Iraqi Army Aviation Command. “The arrival of these new, high-technology
helicopters is a result of a great deal of hard work by the team comprised of both Iraqi and U.S. Airmen,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, director of Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force, and commander of the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing.
ROTORCRAFTPROFESSIONAL The aircrafts were a large part of the pack-
age, which included initial spares, ground support equipment and tools, and aircraft maintenance through contractor logistics support. The delivery of the T-407 aircrafts is criti-
cal to building a modern, dependable capability in the Iraqi Army Aviation command, Hanson said.
By training with qualified instructor pilots, a
large number of Iraqi pilots will be ready to operate and maintain the IA-407. “I’d love to see their military have a great
capability with these Armed Scout Helicopters so they can establish and maintain stability in their country, which is the overall intent,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer Jason Glenn, an Redstone Test Center, Ala., experimental test pilot. The armed aircraft will enhance the capa-
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bility of Iraqi forces to see what is occurring on the ground and increase their ability to support counter-terrorism activities by sending the infor- mation through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance technology (ISR) to Iraqi Army ground forces. “For the Iraqis to have an ISR capability
with cutting-edge technology in avionics, it gives them the ability to protect themselves, the peo- ple of Iraq and ensure they provide a very for- midable counter-terrorism capability,” said Air Force Maj. Scott Fitzner, a foreign military sales case manager with United States Forces – Iraq and a Courtland, Minn. native. “It’s our duty to protect and help Iraqi peo-
ple feel most safe in their homes and towns, and to keep our people from the harm and pain they’ve been seeing for many years,” Abbas said.
Air Force Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson, director of Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force, and commander of the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing, presents the T407 owner’s manual to Gen. Babakir, commander of Iraq’s armed forces and Ministry of Defense chief of staff, recently, during a ceremony in Iraq. The training helicopters
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