Israeli Air Force To Return To Romania For Training In August – Paper

The IAF has not deployed in Romania since the accident and sources told the Jerusalem Post that IAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft will fly there for joint maneuvers in August.

Six IAF servicemen, pilots and technical crew, were killed when a Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion crashed into a mountain during a military exercise in which crews were trained to fly at low altitudes. A Romanian military officer observing the IAF crew aboard the helicopter was also killed.

An inquiry concluded that the accident was most likely the result of human error.

IAF commander Major-General Ido Nehushtan is also scheduled to fly to Romania later this year for a joint memorial service for the servicemen, the paper reported.

The IAF is interested in continuing to train in Romania, and particularly in the Carpathian Mountains, which are known for unstable weather as well as thick forests and high mountains, terrain that Israeli pilots do not get to frequently train in and which is similar to what the IAF could encounter in future operations, the paper noted.

In 2006, the Isareli defense minister at that time, Shaul Mofaz, signed a five-year agreement with his Romanian counterpart formalizing ties and enabling the IAF to deploy aircraft and soldiers for training in Romania.

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