==== Home page > Report > Bierset... - Anti-Tank Mission - (page 2/2)
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Contact tower,
check list, engines on, taxiing allowed, centred on runway, clear
take off at 7H30 Zulu.
Hided behind
mountains and trees captain Mignolet can observe the enemy progression.
If the foes manage to see him, it means for him being fired. The
tactical flight requires a complete knowledge of the aircraft, as
well as an efficient cooperation between crew members. The goal
his important : company leader has only observed 5 instead of 6
tanks. The aim will be to intervene in an efficient manner as quickly
as possible in order to minimize their exposure. Therefore any information
is important.
If the here
employed tactic is not standard it dos not mean that it is not efficient.
From the combat zone one group will lay an ambush for, while the
second one will have to wait to engage from behind the targets.
Captain will then authorise them to leave combat position (a position
where pilots can wait in a safe manner and where final details are
given) to reach the point already defined within the combat zone.
It is important for pilots not to be seen to assure their auto-protection.
It is actually quite difficult since they have been waiting for
this moment for quite a long time. Moreover tactical flying and
observation requires a lot of attention. |
It can seem
to be a simple computer war game, but during the breifing the
mission gains another dimension. To the chief of the ground vehicles
detachment is asked THE question : did you manage to see us ?
One of the aircraft was actually seen, the aircraft was entirely
seen. In real situation the pilots would have been killed. Captain
Mignolet explains us that it was the first mission for the two
other board leaders in this role, in which it is necessary to
see the mission not any more as a pilot, but as a crew's chief.
Therefore training is the only solution. Captain Mignolet
gives his conclusions. " To be fired is part of the game.
Of course it is not what we are looking for, but it can help to
make progress. The missions I propose aim at making pilots used
to different and difficult situations in order to make them able
to react to any kind of threats. We need to entertain our competences,
our capacity to fly, our know-how. We need to learn to accept
and to act in case of difficulty, to acquire new automatisms.
To be capable of a good analysis, and a good reaction in difficult
situations is the aim of the training. Of course we try to be
as nearest as possible from reality in order to be able to act
within an international force and to reach our goal. A battalion
should be sent soon in the Balkans."
It is nearly
17h00 when the 3 crews end their day of work. Some faces are particularly
sad. Images of the mission will stay for a while in their mind.
Captain Mignolet concludes with a smile : "we will do better
tomorrow. We are lucky to do this job. This mission was exciting…
and I am still alive !"
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