Photo By Cpl. Deanne Hurla | Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), lay...... read more read more
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PATROL BASE TAALANDA, Afghanistan – Five Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), flew to Patrol Base Taalanda to improve the helicopter landing zone Dec. 22.
The purpose was to reduce brown out conditions created by helicopter rotor wash, make the area more discernable from its surroundings and level the landing zone, which was an unconstructed, secured area attached to the patrol base.
Because of the isolation of this patrol base, the U.K. soldiers rely on the helicopters to bring in supplies and take causalities out if needed, explained U.K. Lt. Steven Howden, the commander for PB Taalanda, B Company, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.
“We’ve had a problem in the past with helicopters not being able to land because of various reasons, one being they couldn’t identify the [HLZ],” said Howden. “So it was important to install a more permanent [HLZ] for them to determine where to land.”
HLZ construction, like that at PB Taalanda, is taking place throughout Helmand and Nimroz provinces. The overall purpose for constructing these landing zones is to improve the sortie generation so pilots can land safely, explained Maj. Joe M. Lopez, the operations officer for MWSS-373.
Most zones take from three to five days to complete, depending on the size and type of material used for the zone, added Lopez, who is originally from Jacksonville, N.C.
At PB Taalanda, it took the five MWSS-373 Marines approximately six hours to level the ground and lay the material. The zone needed to be big enough for a U.K. CH-47 Chinook, the largest helicopter that will land there.
To improve this location, the Marines first had to level the ground, then lay out mobi and heli mat, explained Sgt. Vincenzo Polistena, an expeditionary airfield specialist with MWSS-373. Mobi-mat is a hard, woven polyester and heli mat is a dust cover, which reduces debris kicked up by helicopter rotor wash.
Now that the landing zone at PB Taalanda is complete, the Marines of MWSS-373 will move on to the next project for development.
"Improving the safety and efficiency of our HLZs is a core competency of our MWSS," said Brig. Gen. Andrew O'Donnell, the 3rd MAW (Fwd) commanding general. "They're one of our pillars that make Marine aviation expeditionary."
| Date Taken: | 12.22.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.01.2011 06:10 |
| Story ID: | 62850 |
| Location: | PATROL BASE TAALANDA, AF |
| Web Views: | 342 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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