UK pilots start Apache training

(EXCERPT) By Damian Kemp, JDW Staff Reporter, London

The first training conversion course for the British Army's Apache AH
Mk 1 attack helicopter aircrew began at the Army Aviation Centre,
Middle Wallop on 1 September, marking an important step towards
bringing the aircraft into service.

Twenty-four pilots from 656 Sqn, 9 Regiment Army Air Corps, will spend
26 weeks converting from Lynx AH Mk 1/7s to type and then another 26
weeks for conversion to role. It follows on from the completion of
trainer courses and is a significant indication that training will
meet the revised initial operational capability date of October 2004.

Conversion training is conducted under a private finance initiative
for the UK's Defence Procurement Agency by Boeing-AgustaWestland joint
venture Aviation Training International Ltd (ATIL).

Ground crew training is also carried out by ATIL at the Middle Wallop
site and aircrew continuation training at Dishforth and Wattisham.
Training of maintenance technicians will take place at Arborfield.

A 2002 UK National Audit Office report criticised some aspects of the
Apache's introduction into service, including s...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
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