Rotor Review Winter 2023 # 159

HT-28 Hellions Reinvigorate Military Partnerships

By John Richards

Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) provides U.S. international allies, friends, and partners the opportunity to participate in our professional Naval Aviation Training Program. On November 18th, 2022, the HT-28 Hellions of Training Air Wing Five (TW-5) in Pensacola, FL winged 1LT Alaeddin Kamel, from Algiers, Algeria. 1LT Kamel is a pilot for the Algerian National Navy and is HT-28’s second Algerian Student Naval Aviator to complete advanced rotary training at TW-5 through the U.S. Navy’s International Military Sales (IMS) Program.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, training for all of our IMS students decreased in recent years. In fact, it has been nearly four years since an Algerian IMS student winged at TW-5. Despite these delays, both the United States Navy and CNATRA’s international participants remained committed to the flight training program and continued their cooperative training. Over the course of 3 total years of aeronautical curriculum and flight training, including 11 arduous months at HT-28, 1LT Kamel’s journey culminated with wings of gold pinned upon his chest.

The Hellions are excited to strengthen our relationship with Algeria and other U.S. partners. We currently have students from Italy and Saudi Arabia working their way through the flight syllabus. We’re all very proud of 1LT Kamel’s accomplishment. Thanks to his hard work, skill, and dedication to the program, we know that he’ll be a valuable asset to the Algerian National Navy and we wish him well as he travels back to Algeria for the first time in three years.