Helicopter Aramament

[tonyrdf C/S Find all posts View Profile Close tonyrdf]

To provide a limited amount of covering fire for the section getting in or out. They would also provide a small self defence capability versus people on the groung with RPG's etc.

I think he ment whats the point in having them on the helis if there not going to be deployed.

[The real Jack Non Temetis Messor Find all posts View Profile Close The real Jack]

And FLIR!

[tonyrdf C/S Find all posts View Profile Close tonyrdf]

And FLIR!

got me! Although FLIR would have a use for ops (other than SAR) at home,
convoy escorts etc. GPMGs dont except for aerial firepower (HA!) demostratons,
and looking Gucci in recruiting videos!

[ZULU Teuton Foot Soldier Find all posts View Profile Close ZULU]

And FLIR!

FLIR is useful in daylight too. Cuts through Fog - Smoke etc. Seems a bit much if they're going to buy a Heli like the AW139 and only use it during the day in clear weather!

[GoneToTheCanner C/S Find all posts View Profile Close GoneToTheCanner]

Lads,
Heli 101 class: unless the heli has deicing equipped rotors, it cannot fly into known icing (the average winter day in Ireland generates such weather) but it can fly in rain, fog, low cloud and into cloud, as long as they have the ability to land back at base (instrument approaches). Possessing NVE and FLIR allows them to operate off-base in bad weather and not depend on airport-based beacons to land. NVE is fine but the loss rate in training is very high (see US Army for details) as NVE makes depth perception very difficult and is no proof against wires and masts, which proliferate in Ireland.Give the AC pilots time to get used to their aircraft and let them get familiar with NVE/FLIR in low-level ops over protected(screened for masts, wires, obstacles) ground first.I'd imagine the Bosses are anxious to avoid another Dauphin-style disaster.
regards
Gttc