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Army concludes flight training on slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa

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File video by David Corrigan | Voice of Stephanie Salazar Big Island Video News

MEDIA RELEASE

The 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) concluded the flight operations portion of High Altitude Mountainous Environmental Training (HAMET) on the Island of Hawaii, today (Oct 28).

The training, which began Oct. 7, consisted of flying to three landing zones (LZs) on the slopes of Mauna Kea and three LZs on the slopes of Mauna Loa. Aviators and their aircraft must re-deploy to Oahu to complete the training in preparation for the upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

Pilots practiced helicopter power management, approach, touch and go, and hovering tasks to prepare them for conditions they will encounter when deployed, such as weather and low oxygen.

“The 25th CAB is extremely pleased that the seventy-four CH-47F and UH-60 aviators who still required the training were able to successfully complete HAMET flight Ops on the Island of Hawaii,” said Col. Frank Tate, 25th CAB Commander. “With the help of the State of Hawaii, we are now able to look the parents, spouses and children of our aviators and their passengers in the eyes knowing we prepared them fully for their mission.”

Approximately 2,600 CAB Soldiers will deploy to Afghanistan in early 2012 for a one-year deployment. Familiarity with this specialized HAMET is critical to saving the lives of the Army’s aircrews and the Soldiers they will transport during the year ahead .

For more information, please call Mike Egami, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Public Affairs, (808) 656-3152 or cell 387-8511.

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