Page 9 - World Airnews Magazine March 2021

AFRICA HELICOPTERS

UGANDAN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN MALI

HELICOPTER CRASH

n RAF Chinook recently
Adelivered heavy equip-
ment to extend the range of oper-

ational French and Malian forces
part of Op Barkhane, the French

counter insurgency operation in
the West African Sahel region.
The operation saw a Chinook of

1310 Flight lift a large air-portable

fuel container to a forward oper-

ating base to enable ground and
air recces to operate at a greater
distance from Gao, the Royal Air
Force said.

This operation was planned for
several days before personnel
from the joint helicopter support
squadron and the crewman of the
CH-47 were able to under sling
the container and transport it the takes under command all of the deployed example of teamwork with a common

25 nautical miles to the camp. helicopters supporting Op BARKHANE mind-set.” . Q

The three Chinooks based in Gao, Mali within Mali. The aim is to provide direct Article courtesy: https://www.raf.mod.uk/

form 1310 Flt and are operated by person- support to ground units, deliver MEDEVAC news
it could have suffered mechanical failure, “Investigations are ongoing to determine nel from RAF Odiham based 27 Squadron and possess the

security sources told local media at the time. the cause of the crash. However, prelimi- RAF, together with supporting elements capability to con-
he Uganda People’s Defence Force The incident came on the back of an ear- nary reports indicate that it was due to a from the tactical supply wing and joint duct autonomous

T(UPDF) lost an AB 206 helicopter in lier accident when four Ugandan soldiers mechanical failure,” the AU mission said. helicopter support squadron. operations against

a recent crash that killed one of the pilots. were injured in a helicopter crash in Soma- Last year in January, another UPDF AB “The UK’s contribution to the French armed terrorist

The aircraft (serial AF-317, msn 8492) lia. The African Union mission there said 206 helicopter crashed during a training mission, Op Barkhane, is important by groups.

crashed in Entebbe, killing one pilot and the helicopter was supporting troops in mission in Bulo in Gomba district. The providing heavy support helicopter lift. “Given the huge

seriously injured the other. the Lower Shabelle region when it crashed pilot and the cadet pilot were both killed This enables French and Malian ground and scale of Mali and

The aircraft was on a training flight when soon after take-off in Balidogle. in the crash. Q aviation elements to operate at significant the operating area,

range and remain resupplied,” said Lieu- these tasks are Refurbished GSE

tenant Colonel Steve Brining, UK national
FATAL HELICOPTER ACCIDENTS component commander. achieved on a daily We buy and sell
basis by French,
“Key to our success has been the full

British and Danish

DOWN 20% IN 2020 integration of 1310 Flt with the French aviation aircrew

GTD-A, and latterly, the Danish aviation

and aircraft. These

detachment, to integrate our Chinooks with
personnel are fully
and effective use of technology.” accidents compared to 2019, 36% de- the Danish Merlin and French, Cougar, Puma integrated into the

Tiger, Gazelle and Caiman helicopters. Last
structure of the
Preliminary data shows 94 total US crease in accidents compared to 2013 year saw the detachment maintain a high GTD-A, all share
he helicopter industry record- helicopter accidents in 2020 compared • 2019: 121 accidents, 24 fatal acci- tempo of operational sorties that delivered common missions

Ted another year of decreasing to 121 accidents the year before. There dents, 51 fatalities strong support to the ongoing mission and is and frequently fly

accidents, with the number of fatal acci- also were 19 fatal accidents in 2020 • 2018: 122 accidents, 24 fatal acci- a testament to the skills and professionalism as mixed forma-

dents dropping by more than 20%, and compared to 24 fatal accidents in 2019. dents, 55 fatalities of all the personnel deployed here in Mali.” tions. Sorties are

a 2.6% reduction in the total accident Comparing 2020 to 2013 (when the • 2013: 146 accidents, 30 fatal acci- Another recent operation demonstrated standardised in

rate (per 100,000 flight hours). USHST was officially formed), fatal acci- dents, 62 fatalities the integration of the French led helicopter order to enhance

“Our numbers are improving, but dents are down by more than 35%. The “Having these statistics continue to force, when an RAF Chinook flew in for- flight safety, but

we’re not where we want to be yet,” fatal accident rate, however, for the prior move in a good direction is a positive mation with a Danish Merlin and a French this also gains

said Nick Mayhew, industry co-chair of five-year span continued to creep upward. and I applaud my colleagues for all Caiman helicopters to extract French efficiency across

the US Helicopter Safety Team (USHST). A bright spot during 2020 occurred they do each day to make our industry infantry from a location south of Gao at the the board. The www.airbusiness-gse.com
“We know our aircraft are sound and late in the year when the US helicopter safer,” Mayhew said. conclusion of their task. excellent degree

safe, thanks to efforts by manufacturers. community went a record 107 days “But we can do better. Zero fatalities The whole formation was escorted by of operational suc-
The vast majority of accidents result - Aug. 25 to Dec 9 - without a fatal remain our goal. Here at USHST, we con- two French Tiger helicopters and demon- cess illustrates the

from human error. Therefore, pilots and accident, officials reported. tinue to work on safety enhancements strated how the whole force is now exceptional levels Air Business GSE Gulf and India : +971 56 447 5207

1 rue de la Haye 95731 Roissy CDG

operators must continue to strengthen Total 2020 US Helicopter Accidents based on the accidents we have analysed integrated. of integration and France Central Africa : +235 66 55 33 33
West Africa : + 225 01 01 52 62
our safety programmes holistically, im- • 2020: 94 accidents, 19 fatal acci- and we’re regularly developing safety Colonel Sylvain the French command- synergy between gse@airbusiness.fr South Africa : +27 72 521 65 63

proving training programs, safety culture dents, 35 fatalities, 22% decrease in materials to support this effort.” Q er of the Groupement Tactique Desert the three nations. Tel. +33 17 379 17 17 Русский: +374 91 150 566

- Aerocombat (GTD-A) said, “The GTD-A, It is a fantastic Asia: +65 9616 4106
World Airnews | March 2021 World Airnews | March 2021
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