The Royal Netherlands Air Force has improved its training programme for Boeing CH-47D Chinook crews in light of two accidents in Afghanistan in 2005, which exposed a lack of experience in operating in hot-and-high environmental conditions.
The service will now require its pilots to undergo a series of "Blaze" training courses before deploying overseas. These will include flying in sub-zero temperatures in Norway, undergoing hot weather training and instruction in brown-out landings in Spain, and training in the UK on the use of electronic countermeasures equipment. A "High Blaze" phase will also train the crews on operating in areas of high terrain.
Operating procedures for the Dutch air force's Boeing AH-64D Apache attack helicopters were also reviewed following a 2004 crash in Afghanistan.
Source: Flight International
