Aviation 12

meticulously planned before the  ight, noting
the sides of the valleys you’ll be belly-up to
on the way through.”

CURRENCIES, PROFICIENCIES
AND RULES
It’s accepted that low-level  ying skills are
perishable. A GR4 pilot stated: “If you don’t
practise at low level then it could become
a very dangerous environment. The need
is there to keep our guys current and make
sure they’re safe in how they operate.
“Pilots who’ve not  own [at low level] for
31 days will have a check ride. If it’s over two
months since [they]  ew at low level, then
recerti cation is required.”
He described the process: “They must
gradually work down to the extreme low level
required. Another pilot will  y on a check ride
[in the rear seat] to make sure their skill sets
are up to standard before they go out with
a WSO [weapons systems operator]. Pilots
have various check rides in a year including
an annual one.
“It’s important to monitor their handling
skills in the low-level environment. Many
hours are  own each year at low level in
the UK: to do this safely it must be tightly
controlled and managed.”
Tim Davies agrees: “Low-level  ying is
an unforgiving business and it doesn’t take
much to get it wrong. Therefore, we have
currencies, pro ciencies and rules to make
sure that we’re safe to operate when close to
the ground.”
Every effort is made to keep the low-
 y system safe and to disturb the public a
little as possible. Aircraft operating at low
level are co-ordinated, decon icted and
separated, day and night. To reduce noise
pollution minimum altitudes and maximum
speeds are setand the use of afterburners
is restricted to certain situations. Reheat is

prohibited at low level except for essential

training requirements, aircraft emergencies

or authorised displays.

Another experienced pilot said: “We must

be  exible to avoid  ying the same routes

each day and [over] special public events,”

adding: “Politicians decide where our military

forces should be sent in times of con ict. It’s

both important and reasonable that aircrew

are properly trained for the life-threatening

environments they are sent to.”

Each NATO country has its own rules

and procedures for low  ying. To improve

standards and increase experience, their air

forces can undertake training over unfamiliar

terrain in other alliance nations.

LOW-LEVEL FLYING IN GREECE

In April, the Hellenic Air Force held its

annual Exercise Iniohos at Andravida Air

Base (AB). Participants included the RAF’s

3(F) Sqn,  ying Euro ghter Typhoons,

and the USAF’s 492nd Fighter Squadron

(FS) from the 48th Fighter Wing (FW), with

Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles.

Sorties with Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki

Polemiki Aeroporia – HAF) units featured

roles ranging from air-to-air combat to strikes

against sea and land-based targets. Many

of the missions involved low  ying, with

participating units briefed at the beginning of

the exercise on the rules and procedures for

such operations in Greece.

All HAF fast jet squadrons train to  y

at low level through vast mountain ranges

across Greece or over the Aegean Sea. An

F-16C/D Block 52+ Fighting Falcon instructor

pilot with 337 Mira, said: “The terrain in

Greece is very diverse and so ideal for

low-level  ying training – it has many high

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 59

A Hellenic Air Force F-16C Block 52 Fighting

Falcon,  tted with conformal fuel tanks,

makes a tight turn at low level.

A Tornado GR4A in the Mach Loop,

taken from the location referred to

by photographers as ‘Bwlch Exit’

on a winter’s day.