RNZAF Participates in Exercise PekaPeka 11

Up to four Iroquois helicopters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No 3 Squadron are taking part in a night flying exercise, PekaPeka 11, being held from 16-27 May 2011. Exercise PekaPeka 11 is aimed to train Iroquois helicopters aircrew in night vision goggle operations and maint

By cms admin

Up to four Iroquois helicopters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No 3 Squadron are taking part in a night flying exercise, PekaPeka 11, being held from 16-27 May 2011.

Exercise PekaPeka 11 is aimed to train Iroquois helicopters aircrew in night vision goggle operations and maintenance personnel in night-time aircraft maintenance.

Detachment commander Squadron Leader Oliver Bint said the exercise would help maintain RNZAF’s rotary wing transport force capability to perform day and night flying operations.

No 3 Squadron conducts tasks including counterterrorism response, search and rescue, and support to any civil defence or disaster relief operations throughout the year.

“Flying at night provides a different set of challenges than flying during the day, and we need to ensure our crews are trained to operate effectively at any hour,” he added.