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Senior navigator of Azerbaijani Air Force: No problems in joint flights with Turkish pilots

03 September 2015 11:26 (UTC +04:00)

Yevlakh. Elvin Yagubov – APA. The TurAz Falcon 2015 joint tactical exercises of the Azerbaijani and Turkish air forces continue.

Mi-35 combat, Mi-24, Mi-17 and Sikorsky UH-60 combat transport, and Cougar AS532 search and rescue helicopters as well as F-16, F-4E 2020, MiQ-29, SU-25 fighter jets from the two sides are participating in the exercises.

The exercises are aimed at testing interaction and combat coordination capabilities on the planned conducting of joint operations, studying the status of zones in airspace, runways in the area, aerial navigation and the conditions in flight, landing and reserve airfields.

At present, warplanes and helicopters are successfully performing combat tasks in the Yevlakh airfield. The main task of today’s exercises was the rescue by of a conditional pilot who had crashed, by Mi-17 combat and transport, and Cougar AS532 helicopters with special forces. The task was fulfilled successfully on land and sea. Also today, MiG-29 and F-16 warplanes have performed mid and close range air combat tasks, and F-4 and SU-25 warplanes performed tasks of destroying ground targets. Azerbaijani pilots used Turkish planes, and Turkish pilots used Azerbaijani planes.

Senior navigator of the Azerbaijani Air Force, Colonel Faig Aliyev told APA that TurAz Falcon 2015, the third joint exercises of Azerbaijani and Turkish pilots, are of great importance.

Helicopters and warplanes were also involved in the exercises from air bases in the Turkish cities of Konya and Eskiseher, Aliyev said, noting that at present, 6 F-16, 3 F-4 and 1 Cougar AS532 are performing training flights in the Yevlakh airfield.

The chief navigator said the exercises provide huge advantages to the Air Force of Azerbaijan. “We are preparing for multinational joint international exercises. Now these exercises are held jointly by Azerbaijan and Turkey. We also want to join the exercises dubbed Anatolian Eagle to be held in Turkey with the participation of about 15 countries,” he said.

Aliyev went on to add that Azerbaijan is familiar with Soviet tactics and have also learned NATO’s, and now Azerbaijan’s air forces are obtaining innovations out of the blend of these two tactics.

“In Soviet and NATO aircraft, there are different electronic system, measuring instruments of speed and altitude, the navigation system. The method of training pilots is also different. Compared with the first exercises with Turkey, our pilots have learned a lot. During the exercises, we use a common method of teaching. Our pilots quickly understand each other and perform tasks properly and freely. Today, there are no problems in joint flight with Turkish pilots,” he noted.

Head of the Air Force department, Colonel Elchin Akhundov told APA that training flights are currently being performed in airfields in Baku, Kurdamir and Yevlakh as part of TurAz Falcon 2015. “More than 200 personnel and 60 pilots are participating in the exercises. About 30 helicopters and warplanes were involved in the exercises. 3 F-4, 6 F-16 and one helicopter arrived from Turkey. Mi-35 combat and Sikorsky UH-60 combat transport helicopters are participating in the exercises for the first time.”

The exercises will last until August 18.