Features PEP, Part 2: Left Pedal or Right Pedal? MH-60S Knighthawk vs AS365 Dauphin By LT Randall Perkins, USN
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n “PEP, Part 1” (Rotor Review #153), I provided an in-depth look at the Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) and its requirements for selection. In this article, I will shift focus from the administrative and academic side of the program to the actual flying. We’ll focus specifically on maintaining proficiency while at DLI, flight prep prior to a flying PEP Tour, an introduction to the AS365 Dauphin, and how the Dauphin compares to the MH-60S. Flight Proficiency at DLI & Flight Prep for a PEP Tour Any pilot prefers to be in the cockpit rather than behind a computer, staring at a tracker of another tracker in Microsoft Excel. Unfortunately, while attending DLI you’ll be a full-time student studying the language day in and day out. But depending on the PEP Tour you have selected, there might be an introductory “CAT I” FRS-Type Syllabus for you when you arrive. In an ideal world, every single PEP pilot would complete some such a syllabus upon arriving at their PEP unit, or perhaps (best case scenario) receive some sort of stateside training prior to moving overseas after completion of DLI if a similar T/M/S aircraft exists. Despite seeming almost like a hard-set requirement, not all flying PEP tours will include this training. For example, PEP Toulon does not include a stateside H-65 FRS in the orders, or a French FRS upon arrival. The initial syllabus for PEP Toulon is essentially a combination of an HTs/FRS/H2P syllabus upon your arrival to the unit. This can feel a bit overwhelming, especially because the training is conducted in a foreign language! Allin-all, it is likely that most will arrive at their PEP units not having flown in the past year, and feeling quite rusty. PEP selectees can take comfort in the fact that, whether it’s made by Sikorsky or Airbus, a helicopter is still a helicopter. If you’d like to maintain some sort of aviation preparedness or “readiness” while attending DLI, you can always attempt to join a flight club nearby (check out Monterey Regional Airport). If you’re lucky, you might even have the opportunity to work with a nearby Naval Aviation unit to maintain some sort of proficiency. For example, NAS Lemore is just a fewhour drive from DLI in Monterey. Prior to reporting to DLI, I was fortunate enough to re-base my annual NATOPS Instrument check rides. This was significant in allowing me to maintain proficiency with a nearby MH-60S unit and therefore arrive at my PEP unit in a “current” status. A realworld example of the U.S .Navy re-basing an “exchange/PEP '' pilot prior to sending them overseas is displayed in the United States Navy Test Pilot School (USNTPS) exchange billet with the French TPS, EPNER. At the present time, the Rotor Review #154 Fall '21
Big Sur, CA
US Navy sends a TPS pilot to the French Test Pilot School every third rotation (every third pilot). Prior to reporting overseas, and post-DLI, this pilot goes through a condensed TPS Syllabus in Pax River, MD to prepare them for their tour at French TPS. They’ve likely just come off of almost a year without flying, and rather than send a rusty aviator overseas, the U.S. Navy elects to provide them with an opportunity to prepare. This is a fantastic idea and process which allows us to send a refreshed aviator overseas. Now timing, career milestones, nine-plus months of language learning, and other factors largely prohibit this icing on the cake for every flying PEP Tour. But if you’ve just finished a flying tour prior to DLI, you’ll do just fine. It will be painful at first but eventually you will become comfortable, or at least comfortable enough, with flying a foreign aircraft in a foreign language. Note: Orders to the DLIFLC are DIFDEN and not DIFOPS. A flight waiver will be required if you wish to fly with a Naval Aviation Unit. I recommend looking ahead, coordinating with the unit, and submitting the waiver early. AS365 N, F, N3 – Intro to the Dauphin My PEP unit flies three Dauphin variants. The Dauphin N, the Dauphin F (nicknamed “Pedro”), and the N3. On top of these, the N3 has slight variations. Certain detachments of the PEP unit stationed at outlying French territories fly the N3+. The base model for all of these aircraft is the Dauphin, but the avionics, engines, and autopilot functions vary across the platforms.
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