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

[Loachman]

Hey I don't write it,

Did I say that you did?

 

[Sf2]

Oh good, just what Canada needs over there, another full Colonel

Its great that we have our own organic assets but we as a TF are way way too top heavy.

Then who would you suggest run the Wing? 

 

[rampage800]

Well in here lies the problem, its not the size of a Wing so why would you call it that. The guy who runs the most troops on the ground/ commmands most of the fighting, is a LCol and is an actual landowner in Z/P, why should someone with a quarter of his troops under him be above him in rank ?

I could buy calling it a Sqn, maybe even have a LCol run it but a full Col, c'mon.

 

[rampage800]

To backtrack a bit, one reason I could concede them justifying a full Colonel there is to have the proper "weight" (read rank) for decisions involving Coalition countries, airspace deconfliction, at the RAOC, etc, etc. If that indeed was the reason, I still think the TF is pretty top heavy though.

 

[Sf2]

Doctrinally, in the Air Force, its not the number of people that determines whether a formation is considered a Sqn or not.  The number/type of aircraft determines that, along with where these aircraft will operate from.  This situation warrants the labelling of a Wing, not a Sqn, and hence, run by a full Col.

 

[The Bread Guy]

A little more from ISAF.....

Canadian CH-146 Griffons arrive in Afghanistan
NATO news release PR# 2008-733, 22 Dec 08
News release link

Six Canadian Griffon helicopters landed at the Kandahar Air Field via C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Dec. 20.  The Griffons are the first Canadian helicopters to arrive at the Canadian Air Wing in Afghanistan.

The Griffons will provide escort protection for Canada’s newly acquired Chinook helicopter, which will allow ISAF to reduce ground-based resupply convoys and reach remote locations in challenging environments more easily, lowering the risk of ambushes, land mines and improvised explosive devices.

“These Griffon helicopters will give the commander the ability to move troops rapidly and with more flexibility,” said Col. Christopher Coates, Commander of the Canadian Air Wing in Kandahar.  “In addition to moving troops, they may also be used for aerial helicopter escort, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.”

The Griffon has proven itself effective in many national and international humanitarian relief operations, including Manitoba’s Red River flood in 1997; Eastern Canada’s ice storm in 1998; and the United Nations effort to stabilize Haiti in 2004.

The Canadian Air Wing is composed of CH-147 D Chinook medium - to heavy - lift helicopters, C-130 Hercules aircraft, Heron Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and CH-146 Griffon helicopters.

 

[Spr.Earl]

But my office isn't done yet!   ;D

  ;D ;D ;D ;D.

See you some time 


Nick

 

[X-mo-1979]

“These Griffon helicopters will give the commander the ability to move troops rapidly and with more flexibility,” said Col. Christopher Coates, Commander of the Canadian Air Wing in Kandahar.  “In addition to moving troops, they may also be used for aerial helicopter escort, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.”

To Add it will serve it's main purpose in bringing out dignitarys to talk to the troops on a daily basis,one will also be equipped with bootbands and a barber. ;D

 

[NL_engineer]

To Add it will serve it's main purpose in bringing out dignitarys to talk to the troops on a daily basis,one will also be equipped with bootbands and a barber. ;D

They are handing them out?  We got told to have at least 10 sets in our UAB  :

 

[Good2Golf]

They are handing them out?  We got told to have at least 10 sets in our UAB  :

Isn't one barber enough?  ???


j/k



It'll be nice to have the extra flexibility to get stuff done around the AOR that was hard to do before.

G2G

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Some virtual Griffions here

http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/sbgallery/main.php?g2_itemId=6556&g2_page=3

 

[childs56]

It's been a long time comming. I remember having the discussions in 04 or 05 about this same situation the outcome from a few SMEs on here was there was no way they would ever deploy the Griffons to Afganistan due to ability to fly over there.
I for one am glad to see our Airforce taking a more active role( besides the medium and most recently heavy lift abilty for fixed wing which is extremely valuable) in the War with it's assests that it has availible to our Forces.
If the equipment we have has short falls it will be discovered in the next few months and then action can and will be taken to rectify the problems. Possible purchase of larger support helos may be up if the current ones we have cannot full fill the current mission. I am interested  to see how well they will do, I am willing to bet they will be a very valuable low cost solution to our and our Allies needs over there.

Cheers and good hunting for the Helo crews.

 

[NL_engineer]

Isn't one barber enough?  ???


j/k


G2G

Should have been moooooooooooore specific, ten sets of boot bands

that help you  ;D

 

[Loachman]

It's been a long time comming. I remember having the discussions in 04 or 05 about this same situation the outcome from a few SMEs on here was there was no way they would ever deploy the Griffons to Afganistan due to ability to fly over there.

The discussion was principally about the lift role.

 

[childs56]

I also remember about the mounting of Weapons besides the MG already in place and that wasn't going to happen. Amazing what a few years and the proper things in place along with the need to deploy can do. What next the SeaKings Deploying?

 

[Good2Golf]

I also remember about the mounting of Weapons besides the MG already in place and that wasn't going to happen. Amazing what a few years and the proper things in place along with the need to deploy can do. What next the SeaKings Deploying?

...also amazing how stuff actually gets done once folks start using the proper tools/procedures that are put in place to make such things happen.  The work to enhance formally the Griffon capability as a natural development of the aircraft was put in place properly more than a year before the Government's decision to deploy, so it wasn't a belated reaction to Government direction but rather a properly planned development of the aircraft to address prior identified deficiencies.

G2G

 

[Scoobs]

Today is a good day in Tac Hel aviation. to those who said that the Griffon can't work in Afg !!!!!

 

[Strike]

Today is a good day in Tac Hel aviation. to those who said that the Griffon can't work in Afg !!!!!

Actually, officially that would have been yesterday.  ;D  Time change and all.

 

[armoured recce man]

good work 408...can't wait to relieve you.....

 

[OldSolduer]

Question:

How is the Griffon performing?