Our Defence Engagement programme got off to a flying start recently with a visit from the Lebanese Armed Forces to the Puma Force at RAF Benson.
Aircrew and engineers from the Lebanon Armed Forces, who also fly Puma helicopters, were hosted by their counterparts on 33 Squadron to share experiences of operating and engineering practices. The visit was part of a long-standing bilateral relationship which has also seen the Puma Force visit Lebanon with Short-Term Training Teams.
The Lebanese aircrew focused on synthetic training, making use of the Puma simulators at RAF Benson during their visit to help maintain critical pilot currencies. At the same time, their engineers were hosted in various depth and front-line maintenance sections, looking at advanced engineering techniques such as non-destructive testing to further develop their own highly effective and efficient Puma capabilities.
The professionally rewarding and culturally enriching visit was part of a series of exchanges in recent years. The mutually beneficial relationship enables the UK’s Puma Force to support their Lebanese colleagues and share over 50 years of experience in operating Puma helicopters.
