Exceptional Start of the Year in Szolnok

Szöveg: Capt. Zoltán Tószegi | 2012. január 14. 6:06

The rest period is over for the aircraft of the HDF 86th Szolnok Helicopter Base. On Tuesday, January 10 the helicopter pilots started their air combat training program for 2012 by performing the first proficiency flight.

The Szolnok helicopter crews – who have already completed the annual vocational refresher course and passed a classroom exam with success –, always look forward to the first flight of the year. The January 10 event was honored with the presence of Brig.-Gen. Albert Sáfár, the Air Force Chief of the HDF Joint Force Command. Appointed in last summer, the Air Force general lays great emphasis on keeping personal contact with the crews, so after personally wishing them every success in this year’s work, he talked straightforwardly about the tasks and challenges lying ahead of them in 2012.

The brigadier-general took the opportunity to say thanks to the helicopter air mentor/advisory teams deployed in Afghanistan for their high professional standards, holding them up as examples to all helicopter and ground crews of the Hungarian Defence Forces.

After the exceptional briefing, the crews commenced the proficiency flights aboard the attack and the transport helicopters. The Air Force Chief as passenger took part in one of the flying missions, during which the helicopter pilot instructors

checked each other under complex weather conditions.