News Review: Tiger achieves 1,000 hours in Afghanistan | ADM Sep 2010

The three EC665 Tiger HAP helicopters operated by the French Army’s 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment in Afghanistan have logged over 1,000 flight hours in 12 months.

The Tiger HAP received its operational certification from NATO for Afghanistan in August 2009, just seven months after the final operational standard qualification.

With an availability rate of 90 per cent in extremely harsh operating conditions, manufacturer Eurocopter says the Tiger has demonstrated excellent performance and operability levels for both reconnaissance missions and combat support operations for joint tactical groups, which have been unanimous in their praise.

A key to this success, says the company, has been excellent cooperation between the French Army, the French Armament Procurement Agency (DGA), the OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armaments Co-operation) and Eurocopter, which has deployed a dedicated technical and logistics support team to assist the mechanics of the French Army Air Corps (ALAT) in Afghanistan and guarantee required availability levels.