60 Afghan pilots trained to fly Black Hawk choppers to chase militants

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AT-KABUL: 60 pilots from the Afghan air force trained in flying the US-donated Black Hawk helicopters started practical flights, the air force command said.

Air Force Commander, General Mohammad Shoaib said Wednesday that nine of the pilots were trained in abroad, while 51 others received trainings in the Kandahar air base.

The Black Hawks would be used in support and logistical operations, according to Shoaib.

“These helicopters will be at the service of our security and defense forces, the pilots launch training operations during the day and carry out night operations in the nights.”

He said that 300 students were being trained in different air force fields in the United States, Czech Republic and the United Arab Emirates.

13 of 150 Black Hawk choppers promised to be donated by the US to the Afghan air force have already arrived in the country, Shoaib said.

Both Afghan and American officials say that Afghanistan would have an active, armed and standard air force in the few next years.

The US has donated the Black Hawk and other military helicopters as well as the A-29 and Super Tucano war planes to the Afghan air force.

The Afghan air force for the first time, dropped laser bombs on the terrorists’ strongholds last month, according to the US officials.