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BIERSET

Master base of the Belgian Light Aviation Army


- VISIT OF THE BASE -

Historical backgrounds

Since 1922 the Bierset aerodrome has been occupied by soldiers, then by civilians or simultaneously both of them, following the military units movements or disappearance. The planes of the Military Aeronautic were the first aircrafts to occupy the base with DH-4 and DH-9.

In 1940, 54 war missions were actually done from this plateform. Then American aircrafts occupied it. In 1954 the base was living according to jets rythm. The most famous host of the Bierset base was Mirage V. From 1971 to 1993 these planes left traces such as cells, large parkings (and as a consequence long distances from one place to another), and shelters where we can find now the A 109. The history of the Belgian Air Force is linked to this base and former Mirage pilots, now flying on F-16, still greet this place by swinging their plane's wings.
In 1955, the Maintenance Storage Company is the first army company to arrive on the base. The 6th
Observation Squadron (1916-1926) is the embryo of the Light Aviation flying component. It is only in 1947 that the first squadron settled in Germany followed by the 16th squadron. 1954 is a crucial date: the name Light Aviation was eventually given and units were composed of Piper Cub. Several events have allowed the Light Aviation to get its actual profile :

1959 : The first Alouette II was appointed at the 16th squadron.
1960 : Acquisition of Dornier DO 27, a short take off and landing plane, first foreign operations for Alouette in Rwanda
1976 : Dornier were replaced by BN 2B
1988 : The decision of buying Augusta 109 was taken (28 from the Anti-tank version) Deliveries began in 1991.
All the Light Aviation operational means were gathered in Bierset, 888 soldiers and 13 civilians.


Weather forecast division

Men in blue are occupying the premisses of the Weather Forecast division. This latter is managed by soldiers of the Belgian Air Force. It is independent and has its own means of observation. Of course, the unit is connected to the military network through Intranet and above all to the global system as it is an essential link of this latter.
Men from two different skills work together. On the one hand observers give an actual vision of the sky, pressure, winds and cloud layer at each altitude. They are an important part of the international network and can provide a lot of informations especially when the weather is bad. They are also in charge of translating information in simple codes : for example, basis situation is represented by a coloured code, blue or red, which will directly translate the clouds base, visibility, therefore flight conditions in general i.e.; if it is possible or not to fly.

On the other hand forecasters are in charge of reading information to forecast possible evolutions. Of course they adapt the kind of information to the kind of clients they've got. For example they won't need the same kind of information to propose a weather way to an Helicopter pilot or to answer precise points in order to prepare a para commando action. They aim at proponing judicious elements which can be direclty used during very specific situations. A weather forecasts briefing is organised every morning. The crews who need more information according to their mission can come and ask them directly, explains the department manager.
Work begins at 4H30 p.m. when most of the information arrive. Two hours at least are necessary to deal with information. The weather forecast briefing has to be ready for 8 p.m. Thanks to an overhead projector a general idea of the weather situation is given as well as the vertical section of the local forecasts according to the latitude, altidude 0° C, above this latter there is a risk of ice (really important for pilots), winds at the bottom level and in altitude, and eventually the European situation with the coloured codes. Today they cannot fly in Germany.


Control Tower

Situated at the South of the runway on the civilian side of the base, it reaches its higher point at 37 meters high. Managed by military units during the day and during night missions, civilians take over to run nearly 50 fret movements by night. The view on the two runways of 3300 and 2800 x 45 meters is unrestricted.

A man is in charge of checking taxiing aircrafts' movements as well as the runway and safety vehicles. A second one assures from the approach course, including Instrument Flying Rear conditions. He is in charge of authorizing takeoffs and landings. A third one manages the waiting area between 2500 and 5500 ft as well as the transitions above the field. There is also a supplementary controller and a chief responsible for the safety of the 400 mouvements.

In the future a main radar will be installed and another person will enter the group. At the moment the Brussels Center of control is in charge of transmitting the radar images.

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