Iraqi Air Force Assumes Control of C-130 Air Operations Mission
Multi-National Force-Iraq
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
APO AE 09348
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release No. 090930-02
Sept. 30, 2009
Contact: pao@iraq.centcom.mil
DSN: 318-852-1332
IRAQNA: 0780-997-5063
Iraqi Air Force Assumes Control of C-130 Air Operations Mission
NEW AL-MUTHANA AIR BASE, Iraq – The Iraqi Air Force officially began fully independent C-130 air operations Sept. 29 in a ceremony marking the end of the C-130 air advisory mission here.
This was formalized through the deactivation of the U.S. Air Force’s 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and the assumption of C-130 operations, maintenance and training by Iraqi Air Force Squadron 23.
Presiding over the event were U.S. Air Force Maj Gen Robert C. Kane, commander of the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing and director of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force; Staff Lt. Gen. Anwar Hamad Amen Ahmed, Iraqi Air Force Commander; Brig. Gen. Kareem Ali Abud, commander of the Iraqi Air Force’s New Al-Muthana Air Base; and Col. Christopher Pehrson, commander of the U.S. Air Force’s 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Group.
“Today I say we are proud to have had the honor to work with you side-by-side as brothers, not less,” said Kareem. “I have worked with about eight advisors, and we have here more than 60 groups at Al Mathana, great in all fields: discipline, versatility, specialties and more than that, humanity.
“We can’t forget the support you gave in the training of pilots, craft engineers, logistics, security forces and English classes,” he continued. “We respect your sacrifices -- leaving your families behind just to support Iraqi air forces. We are grateful for you and your families. We don’t like to say goodbye -- see you again with better situations in Iraq.”
With the deactivation of the squadron comes another claim to the Iraqi air force’s independence.
Squadron 23 is the largest C-130 squadron in the Iraqi air force and its mission includes delivering troops, cargo, distinguished visitor support and medical evacuation. The squadron began after the United States gave three C-130E aircraft to the Iraqis through the Excess Defense Articles program. The Iraqi Air Force C-130 airlift mission was born with the arrival in January 2005 of those same three jets at Ali Air Base. This paved the way for the first aircrew members to receive flight training at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. After being assigned to Ali Air Base since 2005, the squadron moved to NAMAB March 7, 2006.
In his remarks, Gen Kane declared the C-130 flying training effort “mission complete.”
“The Iraqi pilots, navigators, flight engineers, loadmasters, and maintainers have clearly demonstrated that they are ready to perform their missions and, most importantly, to do it well,” Kane said. “American advisors have also done what we’ve asked them to do—to stand side-by-side with their Iraqi partners and provide them the training required to operate the C-130 safely. This is a big deal, something the people of Iraq and even the world will take note of — the Iraqi Air Force is on its way to independent operations.”
In his comments, Pehrson said, “Today’s ceremony is possible because the United States Air Force and the Iraqi Air Force were successful in their partnership to develop credible, professional and enduring airlift capability in the Iraqi C-130 fleet. It’s an important step in the realization of a fully independent Iraqi Air Force that will one day defend and protect the people of Iraq.
“From today forward, Squadron 23 will fly independently over the skies of Iraq without direct support from a U.S. air advisory squadron,” he added. “One day soon, other squadrons throughout the Iraqi Air Force will also operate independent of American advisor support. This change and the evolution of the air advisory mission is good because it means that we are moving together beyond foundational training and towards air power capabilities that are credible and enduring.”
Air advisory training included a focus on foundational training for pilots, navigators, flight engineers, loadmasters, crew chiefs, and maintenance specialists in engines, sheet metal, avionics, and hydraulics.
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND – IRAQ PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BY E-MAIL AT PAO@IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL OR BY HONE AT DSN: (318) 852-1332 OR IRAQNA: 0790-194- 0270. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION VISIT: WWW.MNSTCI.IRAQ.CENTCOM.MIL.
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