Pilots from the 50th Mixed Aviation Base have begun their annual commander flights, despite the harsh winter conditions. The exercises are conducted both day and night, with an emphasis on practicing piloting at extremely low altitudes, approaches in poor visibility, and in heavy snow conditions.
The Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus, Major General Andrei Lukyanovich, is personally participating in the flights. Crews are utilizing Mi-24 and Mi-35M attack helicopters, Mi-8MTV-5 military transport helicopters, as well as Il-76MD and An-26 aircraft.
According to Lukyanovich, commander flights are a mandatory element of combat training, which allows for checking the readiness of aviation equipment, flight personnel, and instructor skills. He emphasized that senior management is obliged to maintain their flight skills at a high level, remaining in service and being ready to perform combat missions at any time.
The General noted that all the equipment involved is designed for operation in extreme climatic conditions – from minus 50 to plus 50 degrees Celsius.
