Ordering the Apache helicopters was easy. Learning to
fly them in combat was the hard part. The RSAF sent its men to
Arizona to master the art. GOH CHIN LIAN finds out how they're
coming along
THE Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) Apache detachment in
the United States has just passed a major milestone.
It has just been pronounced ready to operate eight of the world's
most sophisticated and lethal combat helicopters.
The US Army certified the detachment as Apache-ready after it
completed the five months of training that every US Apache unit
must undergo to turn operational.
Called Peace Vanguard, the RSAF unit was formed only in October
2001. In the US, it is based at the Silver Bell Army Heliport in
Marana, Arizona.
Its commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Augustine Teo, 43, told The
Straits Times in a telephone interview from Fort Hood, Texas: 'It's
been a steep learning curve for our pilots and technicians because
the Apache is a new and sophisticated aircraft.'
He described most of his 25 pilots as very experienced. Some have
more than 20 years of flying the UH-1H, Super Puma or Fennec
helicopters.
The detachment's 79 technicians are also experienced crewmen who
had previously worked on helicopters and fighter planes.
The Apache Longbow that his men have learnt to operate has many
unique features:
Its cockpit is fully digital, and all the tools it uses for flying
and fighting appear on computer screens, instead of clock faces
found in more conventional helicopters.
This means that the pilot can do a lot more, but also that he must
master more functions.
Instead of the two-man crew sitting side by side, the pilot
actually sits behind the gunner. 'If you're driving and your wife
sits beside you, she would know what gear you're using, at what
speed you're driving, but not if she's sitting behind,' said Lt-Col
Teo.
That means there's a lot of communication going on in the cockpit
so that each man knows what the other is doing.
The helmet that each man wears enables him to direct the night
vision sensors on the helicopter's nose simply by moving his head.
The view is projected on a monocle over his right eye.
Lt-Col Teo said: 'Imagine that you are sitting in a car with all
the windows blacked out. Then imagine driving the car by looking at
a TV picture transmitted from a video camera on the front
bumper.'
The commander said that their US Army counterparts and training
facilities have been a tremendous help to them. During their
advanced training in Fort Hood, Texas, simulation systems were used
in the field to make training more realistic, such as battles
pitting ground troops against the Apaches. A computer decided who
'killed' who.
The Americans also passed on their first-hand knowledge of
operating an earlier version of the Apache in real combat.
While at Fort Hood, the Singaporeans drew on their US counterparts'
operational experience, especially what they had learnt during the
Iraq war last year.
Although the RSAF men completed their certification training in
Fort Hood in November, the detachment will stay on to train in the
US. It hopes to take part in exercises with other US Army Apache
units.
The live-firing area in Fort Hood is as big as Singapore, and the
area for their manoeuvres is several times bigger, said Lt-Col
Teo.
All the RSAF personnel in Marana are committed to stints of about
two years, so many have their families with them. 'The families
have to be well taken care of, so that the servicemen do not have
to worry and can put their heart and soul into their work,' said
Lt-Col Teo.
The more than 100 RSAF personnel have a total of 141 family members
there, including 66 children. The kids go to public schools
there.
They live in apartments in the city of Tucson, which is 'as big as
Singapore but has only four shopping centres', said Captain Andy
Ang, the detachment's manpower officer.
They've all had to adapt to living in a desert climate, where
temperatures can hit 44 deg C in summer and drop to zero in
winter.
They also learnt to recognise - and avoid - desert creatures such
as rattlesnakes, coyotes and venomous lizards called gila monsters.
Snakes and scorpions are occasional surprise house guests,
especially in the summer when the creatures come out of
hibernation.
This Singaporean satellite colony has grown. The past two years
have brought seven babies and 18 of the 75 wives there are
pregnant.
One happy father is Capt Ang, whose first son was born in the US in
January 2002. His wife is expecting their second son in
March.
Some of the detachment, having completed their stint, returned to
Singapore last month. More are due to go to the US for similar
training. The RSAF now has eight Apaches and another 12 on
order.
'We want to continue operating in Marana for at least a few more
years, to build a broader base of experienced Apache pilots and
technical crew,' said Lt-Col Teo. 'It's been a really challenging
two years. We have achieved a lot, but there is still a lot to
learn.'
-ST
