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| Crucial role of helicopter power | Crucial role of helicopter power |
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| By Caroline Wyatt BBC defence correspondent | By Caroline Wyatt BBC defence correspondent |
| Members of the Joint Helicopter Force describe their crucial role in Afghanistan, airlifting casualties and transporting troops and supplies. | Members of the Joint Helicopter Force describe their crucial role in Afghanistan, airlifting casualties and transporting troops and supplies. |
| The helicopters move 10,000 troops and 500 tonnes of freight each month | The helicopters move 10,000 troops and 500 tonnes of freight each month |
| It's early evening in Helmand and news comes in of a fresh casualty. A medical unit, the immediate response team (IRT), and their helicopter crew are scrambled and ready for take-off within six minutes. | It's early evening in Helmand and news comes in of a fresh casualty. A medical unit, the immediate response team (IRT), and their helicopter crew are scrambled and ready for take-off within six minutes. |
| Back in the Joint Helicopter Force operations room, the atmosphere is calm but focused. There's silence as more information comes in over the radio, and the operator rapidly sends on details of the casualty to the team now in the air, so they know what to expect. | Back in the Joint Helicopter Force operations room, the atmosphere is calm but focused. There's silence as more information comes in over the radio, and the operator rapidly sends on details of the casualty to the team now in the air, so they know what to expect. |
| Tonight, the crew of the helicopter is flying across hostile terrain to rescue an Afghan civilian who has been badly injured by a roadside bomb, to bring him back to the field hospital at Camp Bastion for treatment. | Tonight, the crew of the helicopter is flying across hostile terrain to rescue an Afghan civilian who has been badly injured by a roadside bomb, to bring him back to the field hospital at Camp Bastion for treatment. |
| Chinook pilot Flt Lt Mike Kluth and his co-pilot Flt Lt Lance Levin are well aware of the risks of their job, whether it is flying the medical teams, troops into combat or heavy loads of equipment for the more remote British bases. | Chinook pilot Flt Lt Mike Kluth and his co-pilot Flt Lt Lance Levin are well aware of the risks of their job, whether it is flying the medical teams, troops into combat or heavy loads of equipment for the more remote British bases. |
| Tough conditions | Tough conditions |
| On Flt Lt Kluth's first day with the IRT, which can begin treating casualties in the back of the transport helicopter, he had to land under fire to rescue injured soldiers while British troops were still fighting insurgents. | On Flt Lt Kluth's first day with the IRT, which can begin treating casualties in the back of the transport helicopter, he had to land under fire to rescue injured soldiers while British troops were still fighting insurgents. |
| "We landed right next to troops who were still in contact so we could get the wounded guys out. We got them on board, and got them back OK. But we had a moment there for a while," he says. | "We landed right next to troops who were still in contact so we could get the wounded guys out. We got them on board, and got them back OK. But we had a moment there for a while," he says. |
| So how do the helicopter crews deal with the risks, as they work long days in tough flying conditions, sometimes under fire? | So how do the helicopter crews deal with the risks, as they work long days in tough flying conditions, sometimes under fire? |
| "Partly, it's putting it in perspective," explains Flt Lt Kluth. | "Partly, it's putting it in perspective," explains Flt Lt Kluth. |
| "The risk I take is minimal compared with the young British soldier walking down the streets in amongst the IED (improvised explosive device) threat. I have the ability to get away a lot faster, I have a relatively sophisticated machine wrapped around me and we train extensively in the UK for coming out here." | "The risk I take is minimal compared with the young British soldier walking down the streets in amongst the IED (improvised explosive device) threat. I have the ability to get away a lot faster, I have a relatively sophisticated machine wrapped around me and we train extensively in the UK for coming out here." |
| Even on less dramatic flights, danger is ever-present. The crews are well aware that bringing down a Merlin or a Chinook would be a real coup for the insurgents. | Even on less dramatic flights, danger is ever-present. The crews are well aware that bringing down a Merlin or a Chinook would be a real coup for the insurgents. |
| There are certain times when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but all the risk is mitigated before we fly Flt Sgt Steven Jones | There are certain times when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but all the risk is mitigated before we fly Flt Sgt Steven Jones |
| "It is incredibly challenging work, and we do have to deal with the enemy factor, as well as dealing with the climate which is very different to the UK. You have flying conditions that are 'higher and hotter'," says Flt Lt Levin. | "It is incredibly challenging work, and we do have to deal with the enemy factor, as well as dealing with the climate which is very different to the UK. You have flying conditions that are 'higher and hotter'," says Flt Lt Levin. |
| "And there is just the physical tiredness - we go through on an eight to 10-hour tasking day." | "And there is just the physical tiredness - we go through on an eight to 10-hour tasking day." |
| British helicopters were vital in Operation Moshtarak, working alongside American and Canadian teams as they flew sortie after sortie to drop 720 of the 1,200 troops who landed deep in the Taliban's heartland under cover of darkness. | British helicopters were vital in Operation Moshtarak, working alongside American and Canadian teams as they flew sortie after sortie to drop 720 of the 1,200 troops who landed deep in the Taliban's heartland under cover of darkness. |
| Flt Sgt Steven Jones, 27, from Manchester is a load-master on the Chinooks on his third stint in Afghanistan. He admits that he and his colleagues have had some close calls. | Flt Sgt Steven Jones, 27, from Manchester is a load-master on the Chinooks on his third stint in Afghanistan. He admits that he and his colleagues have had some close calls. |
| "There are certain times when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but all the risk is mitigated before we fly and we do train back in the UK for all eventualities, so we are well placed," he says. | "There are certain times when the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, but all the risk is mitigated before we fly and we do train back in the UK for all eventualities, so we are well placed," he says. |
| "We are so busy that we don't have time to think about it too much." | "We are so busy that we don't have time to think about it too much." |
| He reckons that everyone in his Chinook detachment has come under fire during their tour of duty. "But you don't hear about it because of the noise of the engines," he smiles. | He reckons that everyone in his Chinook detachment has come under fire during their tour of duty. "But you don't hear about it because of the noise of the engines," he smiles. |
| Essential assets | Essential assets |
| The men and women of the Joint Helicopter Force are part of a close-knit team, with a camaraderie that keeps them going through their tour of duty. | The men and women of the Joint Helicopter Force are part of a close-knit team, with a camaraderie that keeps them going through their tour of duty. |
| Their helicopters are an essential asset in operations here, moving more than 10,000 troops and 500 tonnes of freight a month. | Their helicopters are an essential asset in operations here, moving more than 10,000 troops and 500 tonnes of freight a month. |
| Their tasks range from flying mail from home out to soldiers across Helmand to using the Chinooks' and Merlins' ability to lift heavy loads - five tonnes of under-slung load for the Chinook - for taking building materials or even vehicles out to the forward operating bases. | Their tasks range from flying mail from home out to soldiers across Helmand to using the Chinooks' and Merlins' ability to lift heavy loads - five tonnes of under-slung load for the Chinook - for taking building materials or even vehicles out to the forward operating bases. |
| With the threat from roadside bombs still high, it makes sense to transport as much by air as possible. | With the threat from roadside bombs still high, it makes sense to transport as much by air as possible. |
| Sqn Ldr Colin Dempster, 36, from Glasgow, has been flying RAF Merlin helicopters for seven years. | Sqn Ldr Colin Dempster, 36, from Glasgow, has been flying RAF Merlin helicopters for seven years. |
| Engineers have a tough job keeping the aircraft running in harsh conditions | Engineers have a tough job keeping the aircraft running in harsh conditions |
| Five Merlins used in Iraq arrived here last November, their start date hastened after the government came under months of fierce criticism over a shortage of helicopters in Helmand for the rising number of British troops here. | Five Merlins used in Iraq arrived here last November, their start date hastened after the government came under months of fierce criticism over a shortage of helicopters in Helmand for the rising number of British troops here. |
| "We're resupplying operating bases that rely entirely on us to resupply ammunition and food and water - and we even fly the mail in, which is a great morale boost, and it's good to know you're making a difference. That is important to us," says Sqn Ldr Dempster. | "We're resupplying operating bases that rely entirely on us to resupply ammunition and food and water - and we even fly the mail in, which is a great morale boost, and it's good to know you're making a difference. That is important to us," says Sqn Ldr Dempster. |
| "Being on operations always tests your skills, not just on the helicopters but in responding to the enemy threat." | "Being on operations always tests your skills, not just on the helicopters but in responding to the enemy threat." |
| Added to that threat is the challenge of flying in some of the harshest conditions on Earth, with the machines themselves working to the very limits of their capacity at high altitudes amid the fierce summer heat or the freezing winter cold, sometimes having to land almost blind in the choking clouds of fine Afghan dust. | Added to that threat is the challenge of flying in some of the harshest conditions on Earth, with the machines themselves working to the very limits of their capacity at high altitudes amid the fierce summer heat or the freezing winter cold, sometimes having to land almost blind in the choking clouds of fine Afghan dust. |
| The engineers, too, face daily challenges keeping the machines serviceable in such tough operating conditions. | The engineers, too, face daily challenges keeping the machines serviceable in such tough operating conditions. |
| "Having the Merlins here has made a huge difference with its operating capability, because support helicopters are always in demand," says Lt Col Mike Smith, commander of the Joint Helicopter Force. | "Having the Merlins here has made a huge difference with its operating capability, because support helicopters are always in demand," says Lt Col Mike Smith, commander of the Joint Helicopter Force. |
| "Very little happens here without aviation being involved." | "Very little happens here without aviation being involved." |
| So are there enough helicopters for British troops in Helmand? | So are there enough helicopters for British troops in Helmand? |
| "It's up to the ground commander whether he's getting enough - I know what we're providing," he responds. | "It's up to the ground commander whether he's getting enough - I know what we're providing," he responds. |
| "This is incomparable in terms of what we had here a few years ago, and it's certainly incomparable compared with what I had in Iraq last year." | "This is incomparable in terms of what we had here a few years ago, and it's certainly incomparable compared with what I had in Iraq last year." |
| Essential tasks | Essential tasks |
| Some military helicopters have been freed up by employing private civilian contractors for some resupply flights to British bases, at a cost of almost £4m per month. | Some military helicopters have been freed up by employing private civilian contractors for some resupply flights to British bases, at a cost of almost £4m per month. |
| Several have been brought down by the insurgents over the past years, in a striking illustration of the dangers in the skies here. But the contracts have enabled the Merlins and Chinooks to focus on essential military tasks. | Several have been brought down by the insurgents over the past years, in a striking illustration of the dangers in the skies here. But the contracts have enabled the Merlins and Chinooks to focus on essential military tasks. |
| Lt Col Smith says the number of helicopters is only one part of the equation, with more crews also enhancing the number of flying hours available. | Lt Col Smith says the number of helicopters is only one part of the equation, with more crews also enhancing the number of flying hours available. |
| "It's a question of getting out more spares and more crews. The longer we are out here, the more we progress. We have become more efficient, and we have got more aircraft than we had last year. | "It's a question of getting out more spares and more crews. The longer we are out here, the more we progress. We have become more efficient, and we have got more aircraft than we had last year. |
| "But like everything in the military, it's about the people. There is a huge network of people supporting this - from the technicians, to the people getting the spares in so we can operate. It's very much a team effort." | "But like everything in the military, it's about the people. There is a huge network of people supporting this - from the technicians, to the people getting the spares in so we can operate. It's very much a team effort." |
| The helicopter crew who flew the Afghan casualty for life-saving treatment at the British field hospital at Camp Bastion are unlikely to find out what happened to him after that. | The helicopter crew who flew the Afghan casualty for life-saving treatment at the British field hospital at Camp Bastion are unlikely to find out what happened to him after that. |
| All they know is that his condition was stabilised, and that without their help in providing rapid access to medical care, he was unlikely to have survived the night. | All they know is that his condition was stabilised, and that without their help in providing rapid access to medical care, he was unlikely to have survived the night. |
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| Merlin helicopters in action in Afghanistan |