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2010-08-CA-015

KABUL, Afghanistan (August 24) – General David Petraeus, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, praised the Afghan Air Force here today for completing their first flight in Afghanistan using night vision goggles (NVGs).
The Airmen, operating an Afghan Mi-17 helicopter in black-out conditions, flew their aircraft to and from an austere, unlit landing zone in a training mission 22 August.
This training mission was practice for the Afghan Air Force’s real-world mission to airlift the Afghan Presidential Protective Service anywhere in Afghanistan to include a new requirement for both day and night operations.
This new capability will allow the AAF's Presidential Airlift Squadron to use the cover of darkness to help conceal Presidential movements.
“This mission represents another milestone in the growth and development of the Afghan National Security Forces,” Gen. Petraeus said. “The Afghan Air Force should be very proud of this accomplishment.”
The initial cadre of Afghan crews qualified to fly with NVG equipment will consist of four pilots and two flight engineers. The cadre already accomplished NVG training at Fort Bliss, Texas, in 2007. This training, while not immediately required, proved useful in building the first generation of Afghan Airmen ready to meet this new operational requirement.
The next phase of training will focus on NVG qualification for Afghan life-support technicians. The course will be an intensive two-week course taught by Coalition Airmen at Bagram Air Base.
The first air crews are slated for qualification on the NVGs by mid-September.