Brunei hueys in Aceh

[Razor61]

Watching ITV news earlier this evening i see that the Indonesian government have changed their mind in letting the UK help them with the relief effort.
Originally they would not allow any British forces to help in the search for bodies or relief transport to the area with Chatham and Dilligence being confined to Sri Lanka and lettting the USN do the majority of the relief transport in Aceh.

However, the Indonesian Government have had a change of heart and allowed the AAC to provide the Bells currently based in Brunei to provide air support for the aid effort in the province.

An ITV crew were allowed onboard the Hueys as they (two of) provided aid supplies to the hard hit province. All the crews are apparently on leave and put their names forward to help anyway they could. So, officially being on 'holiday' they are now flying in and out of the area several times daily providing much needed help. Looking at the footage, a few land rovers ae also present in transfering personnel and aid to and from the helo's.

Brilliant to see our AAC boys helping out aswell as the RN in the Indian Ocean. Was really good seeing this footage, especially the interview with the AAC guys out there from Brunei who are on their holidays and have cancelled this to go and help.

[Big Cat Handler]

I know the AAC are all very nice people, but did they really all, spontaneously, at the same time, volunteer to cancel their leave so they could help? Or was it cancelled for them?

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Slightly unpleasant taint of "fishing" there, BigCat. If the 7 Flt people are anything like the ones I used to know when working elsewhere in Brunei not too many years ago - or indeed any AAC aircrew - then I should think the decision-making process over taking leave versus helping out probably only took nanoseconds. Best wishes to them; just hope they remember (unlike a previous overseas det...) it's UNDO rotor tie-down THEN start donk, OK?

[AllTrimDoubt]

For all those who have given up leave - Is it too much to hope that Tony's lot nb this and;

1. Ensure the troops are suitably recompensed, and,

2. Take on board just how stretched we all are that this has to happen

I wish!

[oldbeefer]

Should, perhaps, be noted that the support crews for the 212's are all civilians.

[AllTrimDoubt]

Noted - here at least! The (Buff)Hoon has been conspicious by his absence of late though...maybe he'd like to comment on the efforts of those he administers?

[Jackonicko]

There was a heartwarming clip on the news yesterday. An old woman was being evacuated, and clearly terrified by her first helicopter flight. The next shot showed the hairy-ar.sed crewman holding her hand....

You can't buy that kind of PR.

[Axel-Flo]

A bit late but not as late

Well done the boys (and maybe girls) from TWA i'm sure they are doing as much as they are able with the resources they have and I have no doubt they were all willing to get in there and do the job. Seems to me UK Govt missed a trick huge style by not packing up 2 C17s with a couple of Sh a piece plus ground crew Tiswas and supporting elements. I know people will shout "over stretch" but in this case as shown by the public output/input of cash to all the appeals we could have had a major PR coup with Union Jacks on the first foreign aid to be getting there. Buffoon and Ms Short argued and delaed the deployment of the Pumas to Mozambique which put them there about a week after they could have and should have been in place to really get to grips with the immediate life SAVING problem. Still the distribution of aid is in fact what was and is needed and SHF are expert at that and there skills in it are immediately transposable onto te distribution problems out in Tsunami affected countries. One of the Red Cross managers likened it to a massive funnel where aid (not cash but food, tents, utensils,clothing etc) is pouring in at the top and choked by the lack of available distribution at the bottom. Of course our tiny package would have been dwarfed by the arrival of a US carrier and 20+ Black Hawks bt the initial surge of something would have been (and sadly all to really) been seen to be rapid and decisive action from a government.

[Trumpet_trousers]

..And how they got there.....

http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/wed/jan12h2.htm

(seems even the foreign press can't distinguish between Army and RAF cabs either!)

[jonesy1275]

A week of hard work & a lot of flying!

[FJJP]

Now I have to admit to not knowing what markings the Brunei Air Force uses for its ac. I can understand the press confusion.

Why the RAF livery?

[breakscrew]

Did you notice the big black letters saying 'ARMY' on the side. It is not RAF livery!

[Trumpet_trousers]

Now I have to admit to not knowing what markings the Brunei Air Force uses for its ac. I can understand the press confusion.

.....maybe you should check this out:

http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/wed/jan12h2.htm

....here's another clue:

Piloting the helicopter will be Captain John Bushell from the 7th Flight Army Air Corps based in Brunei Garrison, Seria.

.......if the penny hasn't dropped already, the markings are BRITISH..

and finally....

http://www.army.mod.uk/armyaircorps/BELL.htm

[hyd3failure]

Why the RAF livery?

That is a typical response from a typical RAF officer who is so Narrow-minded and insular that he thinks that that livery belongs to the RAF whilst in fact it belongs to the Armed forces… That’s not RAF Livery, nor is it Army livery…it’s the Livery used by all UK Military aircraft…

[SandChopper]

Just thought it worth a mention, the 1st BRITISH military pilot to help was in fact RAF - he happens to be on loan service in Brunei.

Now that the p*ss*ng contest is over maybe we should just congratulate ALL of those involved?

Sandchopper

[hyd3failure]

Not forgetting the NAVY crew who are on exchange in Thailand.

Now, whose willy is bigger than mine then?

[FJJP]

Jeesh! What did I start!? I apologise for my ignorance over AAC types and worldwide disposition - no offence intended! Neither was there any intent to ignore the 'Army' marking on the helio - I just didn't scroll the photo across to the left to reveal the full makings.

Me? I'm pro Joint Forces, having worked all my 38 year service life with all of the UK Forces and others worldwide. Of course there is good-natured banter and inter-service rivalry [and healthy it is too!], but when the chips are down, as in this case, I tip my hat to the AAC Det guys for their fine effort.

Please accept my apologies if I have offended anyone...

FJJP

[KENNYR]

FJJP..........Dont apologise. There will always be a handful of "know-it-alls" who take great delight in jumping on ones errors and blowing them up out of all proportion.

[Training Risky]

More p*ssing please, my sides are splitting.....!

[airborne_artist]

Good article in today's Telegraph on the lads and their helos in Aceh.