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Marines, AFP study flight training

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 11/20/2003

Story by Cpl. M. Stew Allen

CLARK FIELD, Philippines (Nov. 4, 2003) -- U.S. Marine helicopter pilots conducted flight procedure training with a class of Philippine airmen here Nov. 4.

The series of classes covered flying through terrain, aircraft mishap investigations and shipboard operations as part of the U.S./Philippines Armed Forces cross training throughout Exercise Talon Vision Fiscal Year 2004.

Exercise Talon Vision '04 is a bilateral training exercise designed to improve and maintain the interoperability, combat readiness, and enhance professional relationships between the U.S. and Philippine Armed Forces.

The morning classes began with lectures on terrain flights. The Marine pilots define terrain flights as a flight conducted 200 ft. or less above ground level.

"The purpose of terrain flights is to fly as low as we can to conceal ourselves from enemy systems that could identify or track us," said Capt. Brie L. Walker, Command Element Center watch officer, Marine Aircraft Group-36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.

The lectures covered specific elements of terrain flights including the use of terrain to the pilots' advantage.

"We showed them basic terrain flight procedures, but we also explained what maneuvers we use to combat the enemy using the terrain in specific situations," Walker said.

Capt. Eric Harris, CH-53E "Super Stallion" pilot, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-361, MAG-36, 1st MAW, explained the proper courses of action for investigating aircraft crashes or mishaps and the process' importance to the Filipino pilots.

"I want these pilots to get a strong foundation on how to start and conduct an investigation," Harris said. "If we find out it's a technical error, or the system malfunctioned, we can have it reengineered so it'll be less susceptible to a mishap again."

Philippine Air Force Capt. Jonas G. Liwag, MG520 "Defender" helicopter pilot, said he gathered a lot of information from each class.

"We're here to share what we know in regard to our expertise," said Liwag, combat pilot, 962nd Supply Squadron, 15th Strike Wing, Sangley Air Base. "Particularly, we've learned from the U.S. and their technology, and we hope to share with them our experience of the Philippines."

After the lectures concluded, Walker offered an open invitation to the Filipino pilots to accompany a U.S. crew during a flight aboard a CH-53E helicopter.

"If it ever comes down to us flying together in combat, then we need to be on the same sheet of music," Walker said. "We need to know how they fly, and they need to know how we fly."