Griffon Helicopters, INGRESS and Kandahar [Udate: Deployment officially announced!]

[catalyst]

Can I get a tour of a griffon while I'm there?

I'll buy you timmies!

- and back to your regular scheduled thread.

 

[Cleared Hot]

Hercs, C-17s flying in and out every days, Chinooks Pilots over there are we speak, FAC with troops on the ground, aren't they Air Force??

Yes there are a couple of Air Force FACs with each roto but they are in the TACP and very seldom leave the wire (with one or two exceptions strictly personality based).  Unlike in the U.S., the FACs "with the troops on the ground" are all Army and usually Gunners.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

News Release
Canada Increases Helicopter Capabilities in Afghanistan
NR - 08.086 - November 26, 2008

Ottawa, Ontario – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced that eight CH-146 Griffon helicopters will be deployed to Afghanistan in early 2009 as part of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTFA) – Air Wing. The helicopters, with crews from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron based in Edmonton, Alberta, will act as escort aircraft for the recently acquired CH-147 D Chinook helicopters. The deployment of the Griffon helicopters directly supports Canada’s commitment to meet the conditions set forth by the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan.

“The deployment of the Griffons in conjunction with the Chinooks displays our commitment to the men and women of the Canadian Forces (CF) while ensuring the security and effectiveness of the mission,” said Minister MacKay. “We are proud of the work completed by all government departments to meet the February 2009 conditions established by the parliamentary motion.”

The Air Wing will be composed of CH-147 D Chinook medium - to heavy - lift helicopters, Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

The transportation capability provided by the CH-147 D Chinook helicopters, the escort capabilities of the CH-146 Griffon helicopter and the intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance provided by the Heron UAV will contribute to the reduction of risk to Canadian troops and government employees from ambushes, land mines and improvised explosive devices. These assets will all be deployed to Afghanistan by February 2009.

This deployment is an important enabler to help Canada achieve the benchmarks it has set for the six priority areas and three signature projects that define its work in Afghanistan. Today, the Government also released its second quarterly report to Parliament, a detailed assessment of its progress in Afghanistan covering the period mid-June 2008 to the end of September.

“The safe employment of Chinook helicopters requires the use of escort aircraft. Today’s announcement fulfills the final requirements of the Air Wing,” said Lieutenant General Angus Watt, Chief of the Air Staff. “The mounting of this unit and these new CF capabilities in such a short time represents a significant accomplishment by the dedicated and professional men and women of the CF.”

The Griffons directly support the new air capabilities which were conditions set out in the Parliamentary motion of March 13, 2008 extending Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan until 2011. These air resources were one of the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan, headed by the Honourable John Manley.

- 30 -

 

[pipstah]

For whoever will go there in the tac avn, be safe and make us proud. Time to show what we can do!

 

[Retired AF Guy]

It's nice to see that the Liberals have a defense critic who is interested in the welfare of the troops:

Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh also expressed concern Wednesday, calling on the military to rule out any attack role for the new choppers.

"We need to put absolute restrictions on these escort helicopters…they cannot be used for attack purposes. They should be purely for defensive purposes, for escorting," he said.

 

[PanaEng]

It's nice to see that the Liberals have a defense critic who is interested in the welfare of the troops:

Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh also expressed concern Wednesday, calling on the military to rule out any attack role for the new choppers.

"We need to put absolute restrictions on these escort helicopters…they cannot be used for attack purposes. They should be purely for defensive purposes, for escorting," he said.

what an ignorant statement. Does he know anything about the military?
someone should tell him that we actually use real bullets...

 

[belka]

I'm no expert in helicopters, so how should the Griffon's fair in the high altitude of Afganistan? I would imagine that they won't fly with a short suppy of ammo so they would be pretty heavy.

 

[aesop081]

I'm no expert in helicopters, so how should the Griffon's fair in the high altitude of Afganistan? I would imagine that they won't fly with a short suppy of ammo so they would be pretty heavy.

They will be more than fine. Other countries dont seem to have problems with their 412s in areas of Afghanistan with higer altitudes.

 

[old medic]

Edmonton-based helicopter squadron Afghanistan bound
Canwest News Service (Edmonton Journal)
Published: Monday, December 01, 2008
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=1017558

EDMONTON - Thirty-one Edmonton-based soldiers, members of 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, left Monday for a five-month tour in Afghanistan.

It is the first time this unit has been fully deployed to Afghanistan.

The Canadian Helicopter Force will be made up of six Chinook transport helicopters that are already on the ground overseas.

They will be flown by the pilots that left Monday.

Canada will also use eight Griffon helicopters, a smaller, escort aircraft. Crew for those choppers are expected to depart in the next two months.

All the airborne assets are expected to be in place by February 2009.

In the past, Canadian troops in Afghanistan had to largely rely on the aircraft and crews from other countries fighting in the country.

That will no longer be the case, said Lt.-Col. Roger Gagnon, the head of the Canadian Helicopter Force.

"To be able to lead you into battle is a very distinct honour for me," Gagnon told the assembled troops during a short ceremony just before they began their trip early Monday.

Roughly 1,000 soldiers from CFB Edmonton returned from Afghanistan this fall.

The bulk of soldiers currently deployed are from Ontario's CFB Petawawa.

 

[stealthylizard]

Ujjal Dosanjh should have stuck with provincial politics where he has no say over the running of the country's military (next coalition MND :crybaby: ??).  A couple of us infantry types have already been inquiring about how to get on as a door gunner.

 

[OldSolduer]

Ujjal Dosanjh should have stuck with provincial politics where he has no say over the running of the country's military (next coalition MND :crybaby: ??).  A couple of us infantry types have already been inquiring about how to get on as a door gunner.

I'm with you lizard!!! I'm a bit old to be out chasing them by foot, so choppers suit me just fine!! :skull:

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Ujjal Dosanjh should have stuck with provincial politics where he has no say over the running of the country's military (next coalition MND :crybaby: ??).  A couple of us infantry types have already been inquiring about how to get on as a door gunner.

Isn't there a post in here that states its the flight engineers that act as door gunners....

 

[xmarcx]

I believe LFWA was tasked to stand up some door gunners, and volunteers were requested from 2VP.

 

[toughenough]

Isn't there a post in here that states its the flight engineers that act as door gunners....

There is at least one section of Infantry attached to them in the door gunner roles. I personally know a MCpl type currently employed in that capacity.

 

[Scoobs]

Door gunners are door gunners.  They will be able to work on either airframe, the Griffon or the Chinook.

I am not saying that anyone has violated op security, but please remember this when considering posting things.  I waited to see if anybody would mention it, but nobody has yet.  Therefore, I felt it necessary to remind everyone.  The Air Force has been over in Afg for a long time (myself included), but the recent events represent an increase in our numbers and some of our AF mbrs may not fully appreciate the op security surrounding Afg.  Our Sqn has been reminded of this by our chain of command.

Thanks.

 

[OldTanker]

Best wishes to all aviators deploying to Afghanistan on this mission. My father was a WWII member of 408 Squadron and his thoughts go with you. Do us proud.

 

[kj_gully]

Does anyone know if there has been any talk about Canadians flying their own CASEVAC missions with this asset? Just as choppers decrease our risk going out of the wire, this would decrease risk coming home.

 

[PuckChaser]

I would think that if there's a bird on the ground, and the other Coalition assets are not flying for whatever reason, there'd be Canadian Pilots willing to go into harms way to help their brethren. Brits have already come once that I know of for a CASEVAC that the US would not fly into.

Good luck to all those aviators and ground crew heading over, long overdue! I can't wait to be overseas and see some Griffons rockin' and rollin'.

 

[Old Sweat]

Completely off the subject, with apologies to the mods and everybody else, but I saw a clip of BGen Thompson talking about the latest deaths. In the background was a Chinook with a couple of people in flight suits and light blue wedgies. Am I letting my hyperactive imagination take over?

 

[Loachman]

That was the Air Wing stand-up parade, an event which I could have done without.

I didn't see any wedges, though - only berets.

The Chinook was backdrop, and went flying shortly afterwards.