Southern California Edison Funds ‘Critical Aerial Support’ for daytime and nighttime firefighting with the world’s largest fire helicopter

The CH-47 Chinook helitanker is based at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, Calif., and is available around-the-clock for daytime and nighttime fire suppression within SCE’s 50,000-square-mile service area — and beyond, if needed. Photo credit: Elisa Ferrari

Captain Greg Barta of the Orange County Fire Authority has been on the front lines of firefighting for 13 years. He has one word to describe the 2020 fire season to date: “Explosive.”

“It’s definitely been demanding. There’s been quite a few fires simultaneously up and down the state … and we haven’t even had Santa Ana winds yet,” he said. “None of us are used to fighting fires during a pandemic, which is putting a strain on our resources, but we’re rising to the occasion. I speak for all firefighters when I say, this is the job we signed up to do.”

To help firefighters like Barta during an active fire season through year-end, Southern California Edison is contributing about $2.2 million toward the OCFA’s lease of a Coulson-Unical CH-47 helitanker, beginning Oct. 1 through late December.

Royal Air Force Chinooks continue to conduct support Operations in West Africa

RAF Chinooks currently deployed in Mali have continued to conduct key supporting missions for the French and Malian ground forces during the extreme weather conditions of the Malian wet season and the recent political instability.

Photo RAF / Crown copyright

Despite these challenges, the recently arrived C Flight from RAF Odiham based 18 (Bomber) Squadron, that have deployed to form 1310 Flight have maintained an intensive operational tempo. 1310 Flight RAF is integrated into the French, Groupement Tactique Désert-Aérocombat, that provides aviation support for the French led OP Barkhane counterinsurgency mission in the region.

Photo RAF / Crown copyright

RAF helicopters in operation in Mali

RAF Chinooks Conduct Intensive Operations In Mali

Personnel based at RAF Odiham have returned from a demanding and intense 4-month operational tour in the West African state of Mali supporting the French-led Op Barkhane counter-insurgency operations in the region. 

Photo Royal Air Force / Crown copyright

The personnel from 18 (Bomber) Squadron RAF, together with supporting elements from the Tactical Support Wing and Joint Helicopter Support Squadron, formed 1310 Flight RAF to operate the RAF CH-47 Chinook helicopters that are currently based at Gao Mali.

During the tour, the Chinooks of 1310 Flt have carried out several significant operations.  One of them saw the Chinooks conducting a series of company sized air lifts of units of the French Army’s Groupement Tactique Desert 1 across central Mali.  During one phase of the operation a Chinook flew through the night alongside French Caiman helicopters to insert over 130 troops to conduct a clearance patrol in force.  After 36 hours on the ground the French troops were recovered back to Gao the Chinooks main operating base.

1310 Flight have also been working during this tour to assist the French military with a programme of re-establishing Malian Army Forward Operating Bases.  These bases are spread across the Op Barkhane area of operations and the Chinooks conducted numerous flights to supply the French troops at each new base with supplies, equipment and heavy weaponry.

The last of 22 Apache attack helicopters delivered to Indian Air Force in June

The U.S. aerospace giant Boeing has completed delivery of all new AH-64E Apache and CH-47F Chinook military helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The final five of the 22 Apache attack helicopters were handed over to the IAF at Air Force Station, Hindan. Earlier in March, Boeing handed over the last five of 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the IAF.

“Customer centricity, commitment to the modernization and mission-readiness of India’s defence forces are key values to our partnership with India,” said Surendra Ahuja, managing director, Boeing Defence India. “With this delivery of military helicopters, we continue to nurture this partnership and are fully committed to working closely with India’s defence forces to deliver the right value and capabilities to meet their operational needs,” Ahuja added.

Royal Air Force deployment in Mali has been extended

RAF deployment in Mali has extended

The Royal Air Force deployment in Mali has been extended following a UK Government announcement.  The ongoing mission is to support the French counter-terrorism operation in the Sahel region of West Africa. Currently, the RAF has three Chinook CH-47 Helicopters and 100 personnel based in Gao, Mali and they will be continuing to work with the French Armed Forces. 

Helicopters-in-desert

Photo RAF / Crown Copyright

Personnel from RAF Odiham have been deployed in non-combat roles in Mali since 2018, with the aircraft contributing a unique logistical capability to the French-led operation. The Chinooks and aircrew allow French troops to cover a much larger field of operations, by moving personnel to the French bases spread across Mali, eliminating the need for dangerous road moves, and helping to move vital support equipment to strategic locations.

Royal Air Force Chinooks Pass 2000 Hours Milestone Supporting French Operations In Mali

Royal Air Force Chinooks Pass 2000 Hours Milestone Supporting French Operations In Mali

Royal Air Force Chinooks operating in Mali, West Africa have recently passed a significant milestone in the ongoing UK mission to support the French led counter insurgency operations there.

The RAF Odiham based helicopters have now completed 2000 hours of flying in support of the French military.  RAF Chinooks began operating in Mali with the French military during July 2018 and since then have moved over one-thousand tonnes of freight and over twelve-thousand passengers.

First CH-47F Chinook to Royal Netherlands Air Force gets delivered by Boeing

Photo Boeing

The first CH-47F Chinook with an upgraded cockpit to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) was delivered recently by manufacturer Boeing. 

The RNLAF will operate a fleet of 20 CH-47F Chinooks,  “The RNLAF made it clear to us that they need the advanced, proven capability of the CH-47F now,” said Andy Builta, vice president of Cargo & Utility Helicopters and H-47 program manager. “I want to thank our phenomenal team for working hard during a difficult situation to safely deliver these aircraft. This is a reminder to all of us of how important Chinooks are to our customers.”

The 20 CH-47F Chinooks will be a fleet equipped with the same state-of-the-art technology as the U.S. Army, including digital automatic flight controls, a fully-integrated Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) glass cockpit, and advanced cargo handling capabilities. The common configuration leads to lower overall life cycle costs.

The RNLAF currently flies a mix of F-model Chinooks with the Advanced Cockpit Management System (ACMS) and CH-47D Chinooks.