09 January 2006
ADF medics practise helicopter winching skills in Kashmir

An Australian Defence Force medical team working on earthquake relief in Kashmir has received helicopter winching training to keep skills current for medical evacuations from remote locations.

Members of the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment with two Black Hawk helicopters conducted the training at the village of Bailgiran, in the Neelum valley near Dhanni, Kashmir.

The Australian Defence Force is in Pakistan and Kashmir as part of a humanitarian mission under Operation Pakistan Assist to provide vital health care to people affected by the 8 October 2005 South Asia earthquakes.

The team has established a medical centre at the remote town of Dhanni, about 20km north-east of Muzaffarabad, on the Pakistan side of the Kashmir Line Of Control.

The team, of about 140 personnel, includes medical personnel, a command element, an aviation detachment and logistics and communication personnel.

Four Black Hawk helicopters are deployed to provide essential transport and support tasks.

The helicopters give the ADF team the mobility to extend medical care from the central hub at Dhanni to assist a large number of people in the harsh terrain of the surrounding region who need medical attention as a result of the earthquake.

The Black Hawk detachment is primarily from the Australian Army 5th Aviation Regiment based in Townsville.

The health and support personnel comprise members of the Army's logistic support force based at Randwick Barracks, Sydney; a Royal Australian Air Force primary health care team from Richmond, New South Wales; and personnel drawn from a range of units across Australia, including Reserves.

20060108adf8195319_010 Two Australian medical personnel are winched to a hovering Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060108adf8195319_011 Two Australian medical personnel are winched to a hovering Black Hawk helicopter. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060108adf8195319_016 Australian medical personnel prepare a stretcher for winching aboard a Black Hawk helicopter (background) while another Black Hawk hovers in the foreground. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060108adf8195319_017 Two Australian medical personnel are winched to a hovering Black Hawk helicopter in the village of Bailgiran, Kashmir, during continuation training. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060108adf8195319_019 Two Australian medical personnel are winched aboard a Black Hawk helicopter while their comrades look on. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060108adf8195319_021 Two Australian medical personnel are winched to a hovering Black Hawk helicopter in the village of Bailgiran in the Neelum Valley, Kashmir, as part of their continuation training. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060108adf8195319_022 Two Australian medical personnel are winched to a hovering Black Hawk helicopter in the village of Bailgiran in the Neelum Valley, Kashmir, as part of their continuation training. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060108adf8195319_023 Local villagers look on as two Australian medical personnel prepare to be winched to a hovering Black Hawk helicopter in the village of Bailgiran in the Neelum Valley, as part of their continuation training. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060108adf8195319_025 Two Australian medical personnel are winched aboard a hovering Black Hawk helicopter in the village of Bailgiran in the Neelum Valley, as part of their continuation training. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060108adf8195319_027 Two Black Hawk helicopters arrive in the village of Bailgiran in the Neelum Valley, Kashmir, to conduct practical winch training for Australian medical personnel. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060108adf8195319_030 An Australian Black Hawk helicopter leaves the village of Bailgiran, in the Neelum Valley, after successful winching practice with Australian medical personnel. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060108adf8195319_034 Australian medical personnel receive a safety and procedural briefing, prior to their practical winch training, from Trooper Bradley Shelton (left) of 5 Aviation Regiment. (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060108adf8195319_036 Australian medical personnel in Kashmir receive a safety and procedural briefing in preparation for practical winch training from Trooper Craig Williams (in helicopter door at left) and Trooper Bradley Shelton (in helicopter door, right). (Date taken: 08 January 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res