Photo By Staff Sgt. John Suleski | Capt. Faith Killincarsian, a Turkish army pilot, reads a pilot checklist prior to...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - Four Turkish army AH-1W Super Cobra pilots visited Marine Corps Air Station New River to train on simulators in order to enhance their skills, Sept. 12-30.
The pilots used the simulators, maintained by Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron, to practice emergency procedures that cannot be performed on an actual Super Cobra without considerable risk, said Ronald W. Ochse, the lead Super Cobra simulator instructor and site manager.
Some of these emergency procedures includes engine fires, dual engine failures and tail rotor malfunctions, he added. While a pilot might read about and know the procedures to handle an emergency, practice is the best way to attain proficiency.
“It might save the pilot’s life,” said Ochse. “If he’s done it in the simulator and he has the same emergency in the air, he’ll say, ‘okay, I’ve already done it in a simulator.’”
These simulated scenarios also detailed close air support missions, to include the use of hellfire missiles and other weapons on ground and air targets, said Ochse. Pilots can train to use their weapons as much as they want in the simulators, he added.
A single hellfire missile can cost approximately $90,000, said Ochse.
The $42 million simulator can also replicate any scenario in a safe environment, including enemy and friendly troops on the ground.
It also has a hydraulic system that moves the entire simulator like a real helicopter.
“Weapons are expensive and simulators save a lot of money,” said Ochse. “It’s a win-win. To be able to train foreign nationals that are our allies is a good deal.”
This is the fifth year Turkish army pilots have visited the air station to use the simulators. The continued partnership between the two countries helps the Turkish military fight the war on terror.
In the global war on terror, the enemies of the U.S. are the enemies of Turkey, said Capt. Turan Calikusu, a Turkish Super Cobra pilot. “We fight along with the United States of America,” he added.
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2011 11:46 |
| Story ID: | 77988 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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