29 (BATUS) Flight AAC

29 Flt AAC is located at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS). BATUS is located at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield, 25 miles west of Medicine Hat, Alberta. It comprises some 250 permanent staff (PS) with an additional 300 temporary staff (TS), who serve on4/index.htm6month unaccompanied tours to support training. Up to 5 Ex MEDMAN are conducted each year between April and October focusing normally on a BG during each exercise. During the winter, between November and March, BATUS conducts it's Winter Repair Programme (WRP) during which major equipments are refurbished ready for the next year and prairie staff take annual leave etc.

BATUS is under command of the Land Warfare Centre. 29 Flt is OPCOM Comd BATUS and provides aviation in support of training as well as Gazelle aircraft and 2nd line support to exercising aviation detachments. It comprises a core of 10 PS (including 3 aircrew) with a further 24 TS (including a further 5 aircrew) completing 6 month tours. Six Gazelle are based at BATUS to provide 4 each day: 2 for training use and 2 to supervise training (known as 'Red Tops') and aid range safety.

History of 29 (BATUS) Flight.

The AAC first had aircraft at BATUS in 1972 consisting of two Sioux helicopter used for CASEVAC and a fixed wing beaver aircraft for VIPs and CASEVAC to Calgary.

In 1970's Scout aircraft were deployed with Battlegroup's to live fire the SS-11 on the range. In 1977 the Gazelle AH1 replaced the aging Sioux fleet and the Sioux were sold to the Miami police. The Beaver had its last flight from BATUS in 1985 and is still believed to be working supplying outline territories in the Northern Provinces.

29 Flight has always worked closely with the local emergency services in Medicine Hat. Over the years they have helped with fire spotting, manhunts and civilian CASEVACS. They have also rescued stranded livestock, female canoeists and underslung an excavated dinosaur skeleton!

In 2000 EX IRON HAWK took place with the first aviation led Battlegroup deploying to BATUS. Based around 3 Regt AAC, the BG used its Gazelle and Lynx aircraft to great effect and much was learnt about the deployment and tactics of aviation on the modern battlefield. AAC Flt BATUS was officially renamed 29 (BATUS) Flt AAC on 1 Sep 01.

The Flight provides continuous 24 hr CASEVAC cover to training activity conducted on the BATUS training area.

Provide daily range clearance, liaison, recce and limited movement of men and materiel in support of training. Supervising and supporting deployed BH units.

The Suffield Military Training Area consists of 2690 sq KM's of prairie grassland, slightly larger than the Duchy of Luxembourg. As you can see from the Diagram, all UK Training Areas fit within its boundaries. This makes it an ideal area for achieving up to Collective training level 5 (CT5).

Future

A new era for Army Aviation and 29 Flt is set to begin. The AH1 Apache Attack Helicopter was introduced at BATUS in 2004 to participate in live fire and simulation training. An ongoing infrastructure review is currently being conducted to ascertain the viability of future AH Deployments, the next one forecast for 2007. With the phasing out of the Gazelle from the field Army it is unlikely that 29 (BATUS) Flt AAC will see another Gazelle Aviation Det.