Czechs in training in the Pyrenees

(B2) Before heading to Afghanistan next year, Czech pilots will undergo high mountain flight training in the French Pyrenees from September 1-12. About 70 people - which represents about eight crews - will take part in the training in the Pyrenees. They should fly at an altitude of 2000 meters, which corresponds to Afghan conditions.

The five Mi-171 aircraft, used in Afghanistan, are currently being renovated/repaired in Prague by the Malesice air maintenance company, LOM (Letecke Opravny Malesice). These devices had been acquired with the repayment of the Russian debt and need to be modernized with bulletproof equipment, electronic protection and missile detection.

Several helicopter pilots had complained recently, in a letter to the Minister of Defence, according to the weekly Respect, the obsolete nature of their equipment and their insufficient preparation for the Afghan missions.