Army Air Corps in Gornji Vakuf

Gornji Vakuf - Based in Gornji Vakuf in Multinational Division South West (MND-SW), the helicopters of 662 Squadron (UK) Army Air Corps is the Divisional helicopter anti-tank reserve. But in Bosnia and Hercegovina (BiH), 662 Squadron is not busy fighting tanks. "We have two main roles. Our first is as the MND-SW divisional helicopter anti-tank reserve. But obviously, we don't do that. So therefore , we are used to transport personnel and material around the Divisional Area of Responsibility (AOR)," said Major Michael Cubbin, Officer Commanding (OC) 662 Squadron Army Air Corps.

The Squadron has a total of nine helicopters in Theatre: six Lynx helicopters and three Gazelle helicopters. Four of the Lynx are MK7 anti tank helicopters, while the remaining three are MK9 Light Battle Field helicopters. The three Gazelle's are reconnaissance helicopters. "What we also do a lot to assist the Battle Groups in all the traditional roles of army aviation. Amongst others we can do observation and reconnaissance from the air, and that way check out areas the ground troops can't get vehicles or personnel into. We have been tasked on a number of occasions to use our aircraft to support operations using equipment like our nightsun, an extremely powerful lamp, which can be used to illuminate the ground from the air. It is pretty much like a search light. We used it very successfully in Northern Ireland, pinpointing on the ground what was going on," said Major Cubbin.

Even if they are anti-tank helicopters, the Lynx do not fly around with their TOW missiles mounted. "We see that as rather aggressive, and at the moment, there is no need to fly around with weapons on the helicopters. We only have a mounted 7.62mm machine gun with us. No weapons allows us to carry more passengers, and as with any other helicopters, we trade weight, fuel, passengers and freight. But the weapons can be quickly fitted on to the aircraft," Maj. Cubbin said.

The maintenance work on the helicopters is done by a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) section dedicated to the Squadron. "We are out here to ensure that our nine aircraft are kept in the sky as much as possible, so all the taskings are met. We do all the first line maintenance here in Gornij Vakuf, which is basically to ensure that the aircraft is serviceable to all times. Anything of a more difficult nature we have to do in Split, where we have a second line maintenance set-up," said SSgt. Rob Bennett, aircraft artificer and responsible for all the maintenance work in 662 Squadron. He finds the tour to BiH very interesting and challenging. "It is a very good learning experience for all of us. Here in Theatre you come across all the possible scenarios you could meet in using the aircraft. Anyone who comes out here, whether they are experienced or inexperienced technicians will have a great depth of knowledge after their six-month tour."

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