Kabul airlift craft pays a visit to the island
IT WAS mere weeks ago that the RAF transport aircraft on the tarmac in Guernsey yesterday was in Kabul helping to airlift thousands of desperate people out of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover.
At the helm for five of the A400M Atlas’ runs was Flight-Lieutenant Andy Bell, commanding the flight to Guernsey, who said the experience was one that will stay with him. ‘I’ve landed in Kabul many times, but this was a different story. We were filled to capacity with people on the floor and we had straps across their waists.’
Normally the plane can carry 120 people seated but for these mercy flights it crammed in 203. ‘It must have been terrifying,’ said Flt-Lt Bell,
As a parent he said he was particularly struck by the sight of families with young children fleeing the country. ‘But it’s our job. Moving people around the planet is what we do.’
The aircraft also carries cargo, and its visit to Guernsey was to collect artefacts belonging to ‘Guernsey’s Own’ 201 Squadron which, after being disbanded in 2011, is due to make a return as one of two squadrons to operate out of RAF Lossiemouth from where it will fly the P-8A Poseidon.
Flt-Lt Bell was a former member of the original 201 Squadron and after 25 years in the service is due to retire next year. ‘To come back here in my last year of service is just fantastic.’
The visit to Guernsey also served as a training run for Flt-Lt Bell’s crew and also provided members of the Air Cadets, Air Scouts and Combined Cadet Force with the opportunity to meet the crew and look inside the aircraft.
It was arranged by the skipper and Guernsey Aero Club committee member and rally director Gary Elson, who said that about 200 people had been invited to view the plane during its brief stopover.
Called the 201 Overseas Squadron, Air Cadets instructor Richard Price said it was a rare chance for the youngsters to see a military aircraft and he hoped that some would be able to visit the new 201 once it was operational.
‘The youngsters are so enthusiastic,’ he said of their reaction to the plane’s visit.
Among those eager to sit in the cockpit was cadet James Hancock, 14, who is keen to become a pilot himself. ‘I think the biggest aircraft I’ve been in before this was the Aurigny ATR,’ he said. ‘It was amazing. The captain was saying the aircraft is just four years old. There’s a heads-up display which you can look through which is really cool.’
