MCB HAWAII -- There’s a gentle whirr, but it’s short lived.
As the rotors of the CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter spin faster, a flash of heat bursts obnoxiously into the open windows behind the cockpit. With his goggles on, the crew chief stands prepared — it’s not his first rodeo. The unaware passenger learns his lesson and fumbles to pull the goggles over his eyes.
Following the mission planning, pilot and crew designation, safety brief, and preflight aircraft examination, the mission has come to fruition.
Pilots and crewmen with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 practiced section confined area landings and field carrier landings as part of training on Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Kalaupapa Airfield, Molokai, May 5.
Fresh off of a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from August 2009 to February 2010, they aren’t wasting time in increasing pilot qualifications and preparing for subsequent deployments.
“We’re always doing training missions,” said Capt. Cody C. Scott, future operations officer, HMH-463, and a native of San Angelo, Texas. “The more qualifications each pilot has allows the squadron to be more capable in different types of missions. It ensures they’re better prepared for any situation dictated in combat.”
Practicing CALs aids pilots in being prepared for the tight landing zones on forward operating bases, Scott said. Since the CALs are incorporated into both training and actual missions, the constant repetition keeps the pilots fresh on practice and procedures.
“The training with CALs is the backbone of what we do and helps us remain proficient in our core skills,” said Capt. Derek R. Sharp, a Cleveland native and aviation safety officer, HMH-463. “Practicing for future missions helps ensure the next generation of pilots are ready for deployments.”
With the upcoming Rim of the Pacific Exercise, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, beginning in June, Scott said FCLPs are vital in preparing HMH-463 pilots.
“While we’re not landing on a boat, practicing FCLPs is great practice for the pilots to learn correct landing procedures and the appropriate radio calls,” Scott said. “It makes it that much easier when we are landing on the boat.”
While undergoing this type of training aids in predeployment training, it also allows the pilots to progress in their qualifications.
For Scott, the training brings him closer to earning the qualification of section lead. This will allow him to plan and dictate missions involving two CH-53Ds.
“It’s a standard for pilots to progress in the pilot syllabus in preparation for an exercise or deployment,” Scott said. “The more qualifications we can get before a deployment, the better. This frees up pilots for other missions and makes us well-rounded in all aspects of flying.”
Regardless of the type of training they’re undergoing, the pilots must focus on proficiency, procedural repetition and becoming comfortable in the aircraft, Sharp said.
“We have to know how to fly the aircraft proficiently to become an aircraft commander,” Sharp said. “And we ensure this success by teaching the basics and then pushing more responsibility on a pilot as he progresses through his syllabus.”