Lebanese Air Force Engagement and Training Visit

Written By: Flt Lt Vanessa Fields, Puma CAMO SO3 Delivery

Royal Air Force Engineers and Aircrew from RAF Benson Puma Force visited the Lebanese Air Force in Spring of 2022 as part of a long-standing, mutually beneficial relationship.

With over 50 years of experience of maintaining and operating Puma helicopters, the Puma Force are sharing that wealth of knowledge with their Lebanese counterparts. The visit to Lebanon followed a reciprocal visit from the Lebanese Air Force to Benson in Jan 2022.

During the trip to Lebanon, Royal Air Force engineering specialists focussed on supporting the Puma P4 programme, the repair of main and tail rotor blades and air safety. The team of 5 deployed Engineers demonstrated their own processes for activities such as blade repairs, helping their Lebanese hosts to further develop and assure their own highly effective and efficient Puma capability in the future. In addition, significant time was spent discussing air safety to encourage positive progression of the evolving safety culture that is already starting to make waves across the Lebanese Air Force.

Further to the above, there was also a strong focus on

women in defence, specifically in the engineering field. Two strong, well respected female RAF Engineers deployed to Lebanon to support the Lebanese female engineers who have recently been integrated into their workforce, answering their questions, and empowering them to interact with their male counterparts as equals. These interactions encouraged Lebanese women to feel confident in their roles and abilities, facilitating multiple inclusive and constructive debates across all Lebanese engineers whilst discussing engineering activities and processes.

On the other side of the house, our highly experienced aircrew worked closely with their Lebanese colleagues on enhancing key flying skills such as winching and carrying under-slung loads. Extremely positively, it was also noted that the Lebanese Air Force have made an incredible leap in the progression of rear-crew technicians, a big focus from the last Benson visit to Lebanon in 2020.

Outside of working hours, the deployed team also worked to further the thriving diplomatic relations through professional functions that encouraged the continued liaison between members of the British Embassy, the Royal Air Force and Lebanese Air Force Officials (pictured 2IC 33 Sqn receiving a gift of appreciation from the Lebanon Air Force Commander). Members of the Royal Air Force were also taken to some of Lebanon’s most sacred landmarks, locations that not only underpin the strong community spirit that the Lebanese live by, but places that are inscribed in their history and play a huge role in beliefs today.

An incredible opportunity for all those involved, and an exceptional program of Defence Engagement activity that has seen mutual awareness and improvements for both the Royal Air Force and the Lebanese Air Force.