A day in the life of a CQHI – airborne instruction
12 Dec 23
BY David, Inzpire CQHI
In October, we spoke to David from our helicopter services team about how our Civilian Qualified Helicopter Instructors (CQHIs) support the ground element of the British Army Air Corps (AAC) WILDCAT AH Mk 1 Reconnaissance Helicopter (RH) Conversion to Type (CTT) and Conversion to Role (CTR) programmes.
We caught up with David again to find out more about the airborne and live flying elements of their role.
Meet the CQHIs – a reminder of our team!
Tony is on the left; Dougal on the right
Tony, Dougal, and I are Inzpire CQHIs on the Army WILDCAT operational conversion squadron (OCS). We were all previously full-time members of the armed forces, and, between us, we have over 90 years of service, 17,000 flying hours and flown five different types of battlefield helicopter in all roles and environments with extensive operational experience in most recent theatres.
As fully integrated members of the OCS, we CQHIs can be called upon to deliver any of the CTT and CTR airborne instruction (AI) in parallel with the service counterparts and specifics.
Undoubtedly the area that Tony, Dougal and I have the greatest skillsets is in airborne instruction (AI), which includes CTT and CTR and refresher to type, airborne instructor training, and support to the frontline Wildcat squadrons. We’re all A2 (above average) category instructors with a combined 65 years and 10,000 flying hours of flying instruction across multiple types, roles and environments.
Read on to find out more about our day-to-day airborne instructional roles.
And this is me, David
Conversion to Type
Sortie preparation was covered at length in our last blog and is an intrinsic part of all AI, particularly digital planning, briefing and debriefing.
CTT students are predominately ab-initios who have graduated from the Military Flying Training System (MFTS) at RAF Shawbury and will have flown the JUNO HT Mk 1 (Airbus H135). Convertees will also conduct CTT and will come with a variety of experience from across the AAC and include those previously qualified on Gazelle AH Mk 1, Lynx AH Mk 7, 9 and 9A and Apache AH Mk 1. Also, foreign military exchange pilots will conduct CTT with 652 Sqn.
We could be called upon to conduct any of the live CTT sorties. These start with an area familiarisation, circuits and ground taxiing, then progress through standard helicopter handling exercises (including running landings and take-off, low flying, confined areas, autorotation, single engine failures, and low and medium level high energy manoeuvring) and culminates with an intermediate handling test. We’re approved to conduct this assessment when required.
The next phase is instrument flying (IF), and, as experienced instrument rating examiners, my CQHI colleagues and I are well-placed to conduct IF AI including the instrument rating test.
CTT then enters the final phase which includes day formation and underslung load training before moving into the night stage consisting of five sorties. This takes the students from single aircraft operations to formation and flight to ground level ending with a final handling test.
Tony, Dougal and I support our military colleagues in the delivery of this training and can conduct the final assessment.
Conversion to Role
Some of the most enjoyable and challenging AI conducted is from the cockpit and, in the later stages the cabin; here, Tony, Dougal and I can impart our extensive operational experience across all major theatres from the early 90s.
In addition to the AI, we also role play all external agencies – including the inject of re-tasks and threats – with the use of latent thespian talents to make the communications as realistic and the training environment immersive!
CTR introduces the students to the various roles of the Wildcat AH Mk 1 including, low and medium level FIND (which involves detecting, recognising, identifying or locating a unit, object, or people – amongst other things!) control of joint fires, limited movement of personnel and material, and casualty evacuation.
The first phase is focused on battle drills and trains the student to be able to conduct tactical transit at low level and nap of the Earth (which involves flying as low to the ground as obstacles allow). This incorporates compliance with airspace control measures and associated command and control procedures, before entering an area to conduct low level intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) using the Wildcat AH Mk 1’s embedded electro-optical designating system.
During this phase the students are also introduced to threat reaction in response to simulated ground and airborne threat as a patrol of two aircraft day and night.
Next is the patrol drills phase. This phase is very much mission focused with the students responsible for planning, briefing, execution and post-mission reports for increasingly complex and challenging day and night ISTAR and limited movement of personnel and material missions. These are predominantly conducted as student mutuals – where students occupy the front seats – with the CQHI instructing from the cabin, and culminate with a deployment to conduct low level ISTAR in a ground-based radio frequency and infra-red threat environment.
This phase culminates with the award of Limited Combat Ready and posting to a frontline squadron.
Some of the most enjoyable and challenging tasks of our airbone instruction roles are conducted from the cockpit
Refresher to Type (RTT)
RTT is very similar to CTT and takes two forms. The first is formal RTT for those returning from ground appointments. The second is more flexible for those that have gone uncurrent for a variety of reasons and will have an individually tailored requirement.
Both can be more adapted and are performance-based which makes them ideally suited to our experienced CQHIs when it comes to tuition.
Instructor Training
All Wildcat AH Mk 1 QHI training and upgrades are conducted on 652 (OC) Sqn AAC. This includes training for those that have just completed the QHI course, as well as previously qualified QHIs converting to the Wildcat AH Mk1.
Ab-initio QHIs will conduct a full standardisation package covering all elements of CTT before assessment as ‘B2 on Type’ followed by a period of consolidation and incremental night vision device instructor – initially at Level A (ground level) – then formation.
During the consolidation period students require additional supervision and conduct regular checks with an A category QHI. Only when they’re ready will they conduct an upgrade to B1.
We aften assist in the AI of instructors and have considerable experience in training and assessment of QHIs: Dougal and I were both former OCS Training Officers and Central Flying School Agents with Army Aviation Standards, with responsibility for AI standards, practices, and assessment.
Support to the frontline Wildcat squadrons
As the dedicated training squadron in 1 Regt AAC, any OCS QHIs can be asked to conduct AI in support of the frontline squadrons and their dedicated Sqn QHIs. This usually takes the form of day, instrument flying or night dual competency checks and may include instrument rating tests, CTR Deficiencies and any other discipline where they have the requisite experience.
As a reserve pilot with the CHF Wildcat AH Mk 1 Squadron, I often assist with training specifically in the maritime and mountains and cold weather environment (M&CW). In July I embarked with a detachment from the squadron on the carrier HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH to conduct integration training focused on day, night and night vision device deck landings. In the New Year I will deploy to Scandinavia to assist with the conduct of mountain and cold weather environmental training.
One team
One team, one mission. The Inzpire CQHIs are an integral part of training delivery and the wider Wildcat AH Mk 1 community. The ability to retain well-respected, knowledgeable and experienced airborne instructors is essential to ensure continuity in the delivery of training for our future aviators.
Latest News
Congratulations to Inzpire's Philip Johnston-Davis who receives King’s Coronation Medal
29.04.24
Inzpire
Philip is recognised for five years of continuous service in the RAF Intelligence Reserves
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