Boeing Chinook News from Pakistan

 

 

         
15 November 2005: A local truck carrying Australian stores loads an American CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Islamabad, Pakistan, for a delivery of humanitarian assistance supplies to the earthquake-devastated town of Dhanni in Kashmir.

             15 November 2005: A local truck carrying Australian stores loads an American CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Islamabad, Pakistan, for a delivery of humanitarian assistance supplies to the earthquake-devastated town of Dhanni in Kashmir. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
Chinook Helicopters Provide Disaster Relief

          By Chuck Prichard - 6 January 2006

 

 

             Members of Company B, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, an Army Reserve unit from Olathe, Kansas, had just arrived at their mobilization station to prepare for a deployment to Afghanistan when their mission was literally shaken up.

             Instead of heading into the Afghan war zone, the unit's 200 Soldiers and 14 CH-47 Chinook helicopters were sent almost immediately to the other side of the Safid Mountain range to help provide relief to the victims of a powerful earthquake that struck Pakistan in early October 2005.

             The earthquake, registering magnitude 7.6 on the Richter scale, struck the area on 8 October 2005, killing 86,000 people, injuring 69,000 and leaving an estimated four million homeless.

   Company B arrived on the scene a couple weeks later.

             "This mission was tailor made for us," said unit commander Major Walter Bradley. "The roads are impassable. The only way to move anything is by aircraft. And our Chinooks are the aircraft best suited for these conditions."

             The Pakistani government calls the relief effort "Operation Lifeline." Company B is a vital thread in that lifeline, providing 75 percent of the flights ferrying supplies into the remote mountain villages and evacuating residents who are unable to withstand the austere conditions.

             "Every mission we fly is at maximum weight and maximum capacity. If you can name it, we have probably hauled it," Bradley said before rattling off a list of supplies his aircraft have carried. "Baby formula. Tents. Roofing materials. Medical supplies. Flour. Grain. Construction materials. The list goes on and on. We have hauled hundreds of tons of cargo and it shows no signs of letting up."

             Company B's helicopters have logged hundreds of flying hours since arriving for the mission. "There are no days off. We have to keep flying because there is still a critical need for everything. Our maintenance crews are doing a fantastic job of keeping us in the air."

             While it might seem boring to haul an endless stream of supplies, Bradley begs to differ. He classifies each mission as an adventure.

             "The conditions are constantly changing. We have flown into a village in the morning and had a hard time landing because of the brown out from the dust. Then, when we went back to the same village in the afternoon, we had to contend with white-out conditions because of snow," he said.

             The mountain elevations also call for skillful flying, Bradley said. "Our ceiling is 14,000 feet. We can't fly above that altitude without oxygen. Many of our missions are just below or right at that threshold."

             It is unclear how long the unit will be involved with the relief effort or whether it will eventually be sent to its original mission in Afghanistan.

             "We'll see how that plays out. But, for right now, we have a robust mission and are loving every minute of it," Bradley said.

             "I don't think any other mission could be this rewarding for us. We have large American flags painted on both sides of all of our Chinooks. When we land in these villages the people point to the flags and let us know how grateful they are that we have come to help," he said.

 

 

         
A CH-47D Chinook helicopter of the Company B, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, United States Army Reserve(USAR), makes use of a tight landing zone during a relief flight to a remote Pakistan village.

 

             6 January 2006: A CH-47D Chinook helicopter of the Company B, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, United States Army Reserve (USAR), makes use of a tight landing zone during a relief flight to a remote Pakistan village. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
A U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter externally loads humanitarian relief supplies in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.

 

             6 January 2006: A U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter externally loads humanitarian relief supplies in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.

 

 

         
A member of the sling load crew discharges the static electricity from the CH-47D Chinook helicopter hovering over his head as another waits to attach the cargo net at Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.

 

             29 December 2005: A member of the sling load crew discharges the static electricity from the CH-47D Chinook helicopter hovering over his head as another waits to attach the cargo net at Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. Note the aircrew member leaning down from the center cargo hook area to observe the operation. The Department of Defense is supporting the State Department by providing disaster relief supplies and services following the massive earthquake that struck Pakistan and parts of India and Afghanistan. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
21 December 2005: Soldiers from Task Force Eagle deliver humanitarian supplies to a remote village in northern Pakistan via their CH-47D Chinook helicopter. People in that area, devastated by the 8 October 2005 earthquake, are in desperate need of food, winter clothing and other supplies, as snow has blanketed much of the area.

 

             21 December 2005: Soldiers from Task Force Eagle deliver humanitarian supplies to a remote village in northern Pakistan via their CH-47D Chinook helicopter. People in that area, devastated by the 8 October 2005 earthquake, are in desperate need of food, winter clothing and other supplies, as snow has blanketed much of the area. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
20 December 2005: Soldiers prepare to externally load humanitarian relief supplies onto a CH-47D Chinook helicopter at Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, for delivery to remote villages affected by the Oct. 8 earthquake.

 

             20 December 2005: Soldiers prepare to externally load humanitarian relief supplies onto a CH-47D Chinook helicopter at Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, for delivery to remote villages affected by the 8 October earthquake. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
A CH-47D belonging to the United States of America lands at high elevation in the mountains of Pakistan, providing much needed disaster relief supplies.

 

             20 December 2005: A CH-47D belonging to the United States of America lands at high elevation in the mountains of Pakistan, providing much needed disaster relief supplies. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
A soldier waits for hook-up as a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter approaches a cargo net full of humanitarian relief supplies that will be sling loaded from Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.

 

             16 December 2005: A soldier waits for hook-up as a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter approaches a cargo net full of humanitarian relief supplies that will be sling loaded from Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. The Department of Defense is supporting the State Department by providing disaster relief supplies and services following the massive earthquake that struck Pakistan and parts of India and Afghanistan. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

 

 

         
25 October 2005: Kashmiri earthquake survivors watch as a U.S. Chinook helicopter lifts a bulldozer from a makeshift heliport in Muzaffarabad. Senate and House negotiators on Tuesday agreed to a $20.9 billion foreign aid bill, with less than President George W. Bush wanted for reform-minded nations, and nearly $3 billion to fight AIDS.

 

             25 October 2005: Kashmiri earthquake survivors watch as a U.S. Chinook helicopter lifts a bulldozer from a makeshift heliport in Muzaffarabad.

 

 

         
27 October 2005: Kashmiri earthquake survivors helped by a British Royal Air Force official arrive at a military airbase in Rawalpindi after being evacuated by a Chinook helicopter from the quake-hit area of Noseri, situated near Line of Control between Pakistan and Indian Kashmir. The world's failure to come up with quick cash to help save hundreds of thousands of Pakistani quake survivors before winter sets in left relief officials on the ground baffled and upset on Thursday.

 

             27 October 2005: Kashmiri earthquake survivors helped by a British Royal Air Force official arrive at a military airbase in Rawalpindi after being evacuated by a Chinook helicopter from the quake-hit area of Noseri, situated near Line of Control between Pakistan and Indian Kashmir. The world's failure to come up with quick cash to help save hundreds of thousands of Pakistani quake survivors before winter sets in left relief officials on the ground baffled and upset on Thursday.

 

 

         
29 October 2005: In Islamabad, British troops load a Chinook helicopter with medical aid to be flown out to the more remote and effected areas within Pakistan. 27 Squadron Royal Air Force from RAF Odiham have provided three Chinook helicopters in which relief aid will be transported.

 

             29 October 2005: In Islamabad, British troops load a Chinook helicopter with medical aid to be flown out to the more remote and effected areas within Pakistan. 27 Squadron Royal Air Force from RAF Odiham have provided three Chinook helicopters in which relief aid will be transported.

 

 

         
29 October 2005: In Islamabad, Pakistani men watch British troops load a Chinook helicopter with medical aid to be flown out to the more remote and effected areas within Pakistan. 27 Squadron Royal Air Force from RAF Odiham have provided three Chinook helicopters in which relief aid will be transported.

 

             29 October 2005: In Islamabad, Pakistani men watch British troops load a Chinook helicopter with medical aid to be flown out to the more remote and effected areas within Pakistan. 27 Squadron Royal Air Force from RAF Odiham have provided three Chinook helicopters in which relief aid will be transported.

 

 

         
31 October 2005: U.S. Chinook and Seahawk helicopters fly over the mountan village of Kohri, as Indian Kashmir's peaks are seen in the centre, near the Line of Control (LoC) on Neelum Valley, 25km (15.7 miles) north of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan said on Monday it would make special arrangements to give earthquake survivors easy access to Indian Kashmir over concerns bureaucracy would hamper the efforts of thousands to cross the border.

 

             31 October 2005: U.S. Chinook and Seahawk helicopters fly over the mountan village of Kohri, as Indian Kashmir's peaks are seen in the centre, near the Line of Control (LoC) on Neelum Valley, 25km (15.7 miles) north of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Pakistan said on Monday it would make special arrangements to give earthquake survivors easy access to Indian Kashmir over concerns bureaucracy would hamper the efforts of thousands to cross the border.

 

 

         
A US Chinook helicopter from "Big Windy" loaded with relief goods in Pakistan. The US military said its helicopters resumed aid deliveries to Pakistani quake victims but were avoiding an area where one of its Chinooks came under suspected rocket fire in Kashmir.

 

             A US Chinook helicopter from "Big Windy" loaded with relief goods in Pakistan. The US military said its helicopters resumed aid deliveries to Pakistani quake victims but were avoiding an area where one of its Chinooks came under suspected rocket fire in Kashmir.

 

 

         
2 November 2005: A U.S. Chinook helicopter leaves Balakot, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, about 180 km (112 miles) north of Islamabad, after unloading relief supplies. The U.S. military said it planned to resume helicopter relief flights in Pakistan's earthquake zone on Wednesday, even though it believes one was fired on by a rocket propelled grenade the previous day. The Pakistani Army called Tuesday's incident close to Chakothi, a town near the border with Indian Kashmir, misunderstanding caused by the U.S. helicopter crew mistaking engineers blasting a damaged road for attackers.

 

             2 November 2005: A U.S. Chinook helicopter leaves Balakot, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, about 180 km (112 miles) north of Islamabad, after unloading relief supplies. The U.S. military said it planned to resume helicopter relief flights in Pakistan's earthquake zone on Wednesday, even though it believes one was fired on by a rocket propelled grenade the previous day. The Pakistani Army called Tuesday's incident close to Chakothi, a town near the border with Indian Kashmir, misunderstanding caused by the U.S. helicopter crew mistaking engineers blasting a damaged road for attackers.

 

 

         
Pakistani soldiers unload relief goods from a US helicopter in earthquake-hit Balakot, in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. The US military said its helicopters resumed aid deliveries to Pakistani quake victims but were avoiding an area where one of its Chinooks came under suspected rocket fire in Kashmir.

 

             Pakistani soldiers unload relief goods from a US helicopter in earthquake-hit Balakot, in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. The US military said its helicopters resumed aid deliveries to Pakistani quake victims but were avoiding an area where one of its Chinooks came under suspected rocket fire in Kashmir.

 

 

         
15 November 2005: In this handout photo provided by the Australian Department of Defense, an Australian soldier turns away as an American Chinook helicopter, which delivered his team and Australian humanitarian assistance supplies, takes off in Dahanni, Pakistan, on Tuesday. An Australian Defense Force medical team began to deploy into Pakistan mid-November 2005 to provide vital health care assistance as part of the Australian Government's relief assistance to Pakistan following the earthquakes on 8 October 2005.

 

             15 November 2005: In this handout photo provided by the Australian Department of Defense, an Australian soldier turns away as an American Chinook helicopter, which delivered his team and Australian humanitarian assistance supplies, takes off in Dahanni, Pakistan, on Tuesday. An Australian Defense Force medical team began to deploy into Pakistan mid-November 2005 to provide vital health care assistance as part of the Australian Government's relief assistance to Pakistan following the earthquakes on 8 October 2005.

 

 

         
15 November 2005: In this handout photo provided by the Australian Department of Defense, Australian and Pakistani soldiers take cover from flying dust and grit in the downwash of an American Chinook helicopter taking off in Dahanni, Pakistan, on Tuesday. An Australian Defense Force medical team began to deploy into Pakistan mid November 2005 to provide vital health care assistance as part of the Australian Government's relief assistance to Pakistan following the earthquakes on 8 October 2005.

 

             15 November 2005: In this handout photo provided by the Australian Department of Defense, Australian and Pakistani soldiers take cover from flying dust and grit in the downwash of an American Chinook helicopter taking off in Dahanni, Pakistan, on Tuesday. An Australian Defense Force medical team began to deploy into Pakistan mid November 2005 to provide vital health care assistance as part of the Australian Government's relief assistance to Pakistan following the earthquakes on 8 October 2005.

 

 

         
16 November 2005: A British Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter lifts aid supplies for Pakistani earthquake victims at an air strip near Muzaffarabad. The U.N. and British military launched an airlift on Wednesday to move hundreds of tonnes of food and shelter to earthquake survivors high in Pakistan's mountains to ensure they survive the winter.

 

             16 November 2005: A British Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter lifts aid supplies for Pakistani earthquake victims at an air strip near Muzaffarabad. The U.N. and British military launched an airlift on Wednesday to move hundreds of tonnes of food and shelter to earthquake survivors high in Pakistan's mountains to ensure they survive the winter.

 

 

         
16 November 2005: British soldiers wrap up tents, food and other supplies to earthquake victims before airlift by British CH-47 Chinook helicopters at an airport in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Two British military helicopters on Wednesday joined an increasingly urgent push to send supplies to survivors of last month's earthquake that killed more than 86,000 people and devastated large parts of mountainous northern Pakistan.

 

             16 November 2005: British soldiers wrap up tents, food and other supplies to earthquake victims before airlift by British CH-47 Chinook helicopters at an airport in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Two British military helicopters on Wednesday joined an increasingly urgent push to send supplies to survivors of last month's earthquake that killed more than 86,000 people and devastated large parts of mountainous northern Pakistan.

 

 

         
16 November 2005: British soldiers wrap up tents, food and other supplies to earthquake victims before airlift by British CH-47 Chinook helicopters at an airport in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Two British military helicopters on Wednesday joined an increasingly urgent push to send supplies to survivors of last month's earthquake that killed more than 86,000 people and devastated large parts of mountainous northern Pakistan.

 

             16 November 2005: British soldiers wrap up tents, food and other supplies to earthquake victims before airlift by British CH-47 Chinook helicopters at an airport in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Two British military helicopters on Wednesday joined an increasingly urgent push to send supplies to survivors of last month's earthquake that killed more than 86,000 people and devastated large parts of mountainous northern Pakistan.

 

 

         
16 November 2005: British soldiers prepare airlift of tents, food and other supplies to earthquake victims by a British CH-47 Chinook helicopter at an airport in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Two British military helicopters on Wednesday joined an increasingly urgent push to send supplies to survivors of last month's earthquake that killed more than 86,000 people and devastated large parts of mountainous northern Pakistan.

 

             16 November 2005: British soldiers prepare airlift of tents, food and other supplies to earthquake victims by a British CH-47 Chinook helicopter at an airport in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Two British military helicopters on Wednesday joined an increasingly urgent push to send supplies to survivors of last month's earthquake that killed more than 86,000 people and devastated large parts of mountainous northern Pakistan.

 

 

         
16 November 2005: A British Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter lifts aid supplies for earthquake victims at an air strip near Muzaffarabad.

 

             16 November 2005: A British Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter lifts aid supplies for earthquake victims at an air strip near Muzaffarabad.

 

 

         
16 November 2005: A member of the Joint Helicopter Support Unit gives the thumbs-up sign to a Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter carrying loads of relief supplies in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The United Nations and British military launched a huge airlift of food and tents to earthquake survivors high in Pakistan's mountains on Wednesday as Islamabad appealed to the world for more money. Two Royal Air Force Chinook transport helicopters hovered low over an air strip on the outskirts of the ruined city of Muzaffarabad while a British military team on the ground hooked up nets filled with the first of hundreds of tonnes of supplies.

 

             16 November 2005: A member of the Joint Helicopter Support Unit gives the thumbs-up sign to a Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter carrying loads of relief supplies in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The United Nations and British military launched a huge airlift of food and tents to earthquake survivors high in Pakistan's mountains on Wednesday as Islamabad appealed to the world for more money. Two Royal Air Force Chinook transport helicopters hovered low over an air strip on the outskirts of the ruined city of Muzaffarabad while a British military team on the ground hooked up nets filled with the first of hundreds of tonnes of supplies.

 

 

         
16 November 2005: A Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter flies carrying loads of relief supplies in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The United Nations and British military launched a huge airlift of food and tents to earthquake survivors high in Pakistan's mountains on Wednesday as Islamabad appealed to the world for more money. Two Royal Air Force Chinook transport helicopters hovered low over an air strip on the outskirts of the ruined city of Muzaffarabad while a British military team on the ground hooked up nets filled with the first of hundreds of tonnes of supplies.

 

             16 November 2005: A Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter flies carrying loads of relief supplies in Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The United Nations and British military launched a huge airlift of food and tents to earthquake survivors high in Pakistan's mountains on Wednesday as Islamabad appealed to the world for more money. Two Royal Air Force Chinook transport helicopters hovered low over an air strip on the outskirts of the ruined city of Muzaffarabad while a British military team on the ground hooked up nets filled with the first of hundreds of tonnes of supplies.

 

 

         
21 November 2005: A British Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter flies carrying loads of relief supplies for Pakistani earthquake-affected areas at a military base in Rawalpindi. Quake-stricken Pakistan heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday after world donors pledged almost $6 billion, and vowed in return to account for every cent as it distributes the aid to survivors of last month's huge tremor.

 

             21 November 2005: A British Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter flies carrying loads of relief supplies for Pakistani earthquake-affected areas at a military base in Rawalpindi. Quake-stricken Pakistan heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday after world donors pledged almost $6 billion, and vowed in return to account for every cent as it distributes the aid to survivors of last month's huge tremor.

 

 

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