JBA activated the 5th Helicopter Squadron marking the installation’s first new rotary-wing squadron activation in 60 years. The squadron will lead the phased integration and modernization transition to the HH-60W Jolly Green II alongside the 1st HS.
The Army plans to replace the Lakota with Robinson R66 helicopters for entry-level pilot training under its Flight School Next initiative.
The 56th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron arrived at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, setting a milestone by deploying HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters and establishing a critical rotary-wing rescue capability in East Africa to support regional response efforts.
Under the proposal, instruction would shift to a facility owned and operated by the contractor, an unprecedented move for Army aviation.
The optionally piloted Black Hawk will soon enter a testing program to determine how and if the Army can integrate the aircraft into its inventory.
At the Connecticut National Guard's 1109th Aviation Classification and Repair Depot, workers refurbish and maintain the Army's fleet of rotary-wing aircraft, a unique job that can save the War Department millions of dollars a year.