Performance of Chinese amry aviation in the Wenchuan earthquake relief effort

[danw]

There is some debate about the performance of the army aviation units in the earthquake relief effort, especially about their inability to land helicopters in the epicenter during the early hours after the earthquake. The official explanation was bad weather (heavy rain, high wind etc.) prevented them from doing so. Do you all think this is a valid reason?

On another aspect, reading this forum, it said China had ~250 Mi-17, but it seems the government need to call upon a large number of helicopters from the civil aviation services to get 100-120 helicopters to join the rescue effort...

[tphuang]

There is some debate about the performance of the army aviation units in the earthquake relief effort, especially about their inability to land helicopters in the epicenter during the early hours after the earthquake. The official explanation was bad weather (heavy rain, high wind etc.) prevented them from doing so. Do you all think this is a valid reason?

On another aspect, reading this forum, it said China had ~250 Mi-17, but it seems the government need to call upon a large number of helicopters from the civil aviation services to get 100-120 helicopters to join the rescue effort...

well, considering that there are only 500 helicopters in all of China and many of them are too light to have any transport or SAR use, it's quite a feat to even get 110 helos in there.

[johnqd]

There is some debate about the performance of the army aviation units in the earthquake relief effort, especially about their inability to land helicopters in the epicenter during the early hours after the earthquake. The official explanation was bad weather (heavy rain, high wind etc.) prevented them from doing so. Do you all think this is a valid reason?

On another aspect, reading this forum, it said China had ~250 Mi-17, but it seems the government need to call upon a large number of helicopters from the civil aviation services to get 100-120 helicopters to join the rescue effort...
--------------

1. Although there are 5oo copters currentlly in service,but half of them are z-9 types, which is not suitalbe for high altitude task. The military commander must keep at least half of the remaining 250 Mi-171 at military base just for preparetion of any urgent military task, and also, make sure that the PLA's military transportation ability is not severely affected by the earthquake. i think this expain why they only send 60-90 military copter to join in relife work there.
2. I think PLA copter forces did not do a very good job at the very beganning, "Grandpa Wen" once warned the military commander when they claimed that the situation in epicenter is not suitable for landing," you are raised by the people, you guys should know what to do (at current situation )", this is very sharp words considering PM's easy going personality, and every people could tell that he is not satified with PLAAF's performance!
personally, i also can not agree with the excuse of military commander that the situation is too danger, because solider should never be detered by danger, not to mention there were tens of thousand people were waiting for rescure!@

[Spike]

I'm not sure about specifics but I know that the area is very mountainous and often shrouded in fog. Add the fact that it's unfamiliar terrain and extremely unstable, I would understand why a pilot would be hesitant to attempt risky maneuvers.

[PrOeLiTeZ]

I'm not sure about specifics but I know that the area is very mountainous and often shrouded in fog. Add the fact that it's unfamiliar terrain and extremely unstable, I would understand why a pilot would be hesitant to attempt risky maneuvers.
The mountain create pockets of concentrated air, and makes a channel for rapid air flow. Also not all of PLAAF Heli are equipped sufficient to navagate through the own vallies and the exact location of the place either. Thats why the PLA poured tens of thousands of troops in via foot and rafts.

[man overbored]

Rain, fog, high winds and mountains are a recipe for a crash in any helicopter. The flight instruments tell you straight and level or if you are in a turn, they can tell you your rate of climb and descent, but they cannot tell you where the next mountain peak is.
The navigation instruments can orient the helo in space and allow you to fly from point A to point B, but you still have to see the ground to take off and land. To find an airport in a mountain valley one needs operating navigation aids to guide the pilot to the airfield. It is safe to assume these were not operable in the affected areas, making instrument approaches impossible no matter how complete the helo's avionics fit. The pilot is reduced to looking outside, reading a chart and flying visually. If the weather is bad this may not be possible for even the best pilot. Sadly this quake corresponded with some terrible weather for flying, increasing the already great suffering of the victims. Don't lay a load of guilt on these pilots, I am certain they are more frustrated than anyone can imagine.

[PrOeLiTeZ]

Yeah everyone is having a hard time work long days in miserable conditions with dead bodies lying everywhere, pilots would be exhausted doing so many trips in barley visible conditions with insufficient information for them to fly saftely. Hundreds of rescue personal have already died just to save some lifes. Have to give them lot of respect.

This should be a great physicological training for the troops for simulating real time war scenario if it occurs. Mainland articles have stated that 20% of the rescue troops have suffered some physcological harm from all that has happened. If it evey happens again (pray not) the PLA Heli Force will be ready with more equipment available. Mi-17 assembly line and co-produce Z-15. They're was news ages ago bout something of Mi-26 production line in Hong Kong or something but it seems to have quite downed a bit now.

[man overbored]

There was a contract announced to build M-171's in Chengdu, a day after the quake I believe.
As for psychological preparation for war, well, I dunno. How can you prepare a person for the horror of killing your fellow man? There is a book called "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" by a US Army medical doctor, LtCol David Grossman. It is a grim and chilling read. You will be stunned by some of his discoveries about the behavior of soldiers when confronted with the opportunity to kill another man. You might be disgusted at the techniques armies use to desensitize recruits and the outcome of this training. Have at it.

[PrOeLiTeZ]

There was a contract announced to build M-171's in Chengdu, a day after the quake I believe.
As for psychological preparation for war, well, I dunno. How can you prepare a person for the horror of killing your fellow man? There is a book called "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" by a US Army medical doctor, LtCol David Grossman. It is a grim and chilling read. You will be stunned by some of his discoveries about the behavior of soldiers when confronted with the opportunity to kill another man. You might be disgusted at the techniques armies use to desensitize recruits and the outcome of this training. Have at it.
yeah i know what you mean, but being exposed to this kind of event helps troops be prepared for worser scenarios, and toughs the mind up a bit...having exposure to this the troops get a glimpse of reality if it were their buddies in war or etc...i know you simply cannot prepare for this stuff...but its better to be informed then be in the cold...heard stories of from vietnam veterans that some troops were reluctant to shoot at the enemy when they had a chance...but their were brillant on the training field...guess training your hearts out isn't quite the same as the real thing....

BIG NEWS----One panda died :( how sad

[tphuang]

i found xinhui posting this on CDF

PLA陆航实力为10个战斗团、1所学院和1个试飞大队。救灾中动用了7个战斗团，总体表现令人满意。个人 根据公开报道归纳了正反几个方面的特点，如有不妥之处请大家指正（因没出动武装直升机，故不涉及这一机型能 力）。

第一，反应迅速，战斗意志顽强。2团驻地四川，震前正在进行正常训练，震后几分钟团政委便下令中断训练并转 入战备待命状态，半小时即做好救灾起飞准备，随后接集团军命令起飞侦察灾情。这样的反应速度应该讲是相当快 的，说明团领导的战备观念较强。在随后进行的大规模飞行救援中，各团飞行员们克服了种种困难，积极投入战斗 ，尤其是勇战恶劣天气在超气象条件下强行起降、克服人员少任务重等不利因素连续高强度飞行，表现出顽强的战 斗意志令人敬佩。

第二，各型装备完好率较高。2团共有直升机30架左右，救灾中几乎倾巢出动，已经24岁“高龄”的S70同 样有着相当高的出勤率，可见飞机的日常维护不错，新老装备都能起飞执行任务。又如1团，15日凌晨接到总参 增援令，清晨7点即派出22架MI17（除去少量留守外，这几乎是该团所有可出动的运输机），下午2点半左 右转场至邛崃场站，可见该团的主战装备完好率也比较高。

第三，直升机总量太少，与陆军规模不成比例。目前只有8个集团军编有陆航团，尚不到集团军总数的一半；整个 成都军区防区包括数个省、市和自治区，而只有1 个团30架直升机。突发重大自然灾害后能从全军调集的机动力量也只有近百架飞机，总量太少了。另外，陆航团 一般只有10-20架运输直升机（2团例外全部是运输机型），一次性投送能力只有一个步兵营，与几万人的集团军相比也显得 单薄了一点。灾后要大力发展陆航，中远期目标要把18个集团军和新疆、西藏、内蒙古三个省军区配齐陆航团， 再加一个总参直属团，就是22个战斗团；近期目标优先补充重点方向，如14、41、21军等。

第四，机种单一，缺重少轻。陆航目前现役几乎清一色是中型直升机，MI6退役后就没有重型机了，4团尚有几 架小羚羊轻型机。由于缺乏重型机而吊运能力不足，无法在地面道路被毁情况下向重要地区运送大型机械装备，透 过救灾行动要正视这个教训。考虑到MI26的使用成本高和机务维护复杂等问题，不一定每个陆航团都装备此机 型，但至少应在4团中列编一个大队，以备不时之需。反之，轻型直升机可以担负战场侦察、打击效果评估、航拍 等任务，能在一定程度上减轻其它机型的压力以适应多样化的任务需要。陆航机型单一虽有机务维护和人员培养成 本低的优点，但有时也未必就是好事情。

第五，机载设备比较简陋。陆航现役主力是MI17系列直升机，辅以少量S70和直8A，MI17系列中只有 近年服役的V5\V7型安装有较先进的航电设备，具备一定的复杂气象飞行能力，其它老机的航电设备过于简陋 ，能否飞复杂气象就看飞行员的技术和经验了。还有，透过失事飞机搜救过程不难看出机上缺乏现代化的导航和定 位装置。随着我国北斗系统日趋完善，直升机上应尽快加装相关终端设备，和平时期能用人海战术搜寻失事飞机， 战时怎么办呢？

第六，飞行骨干打疲劳战突显飞行员储备不足。汇总各媒体救灾报道可见不少飞行员每天飞行10多个小时，处于 疲劳状态。这个现象的根源在于飞行员储备不足，飞机和机组比例偏低。以2团为例，有80 多名飞行员（2008年4月航校毕业刚分配来15名新人，因尚处于改装期不能上天执行任务）和30架左右的 飞机，以标准3人机组（2名飞行员和1名空中机械师。失事的734号因为执行防疫专家运送任务，临时加强了 机组，另增加了空中机械师和安全员各1人）计算，飞机和机组比例接近1:3。再看1团，接到增援令后派出2 2架飞机和200名官兵，除去必要的地勤人员，比例不会超过1:2。还有6团，派出了9架飞机和 82 名官兵（共预备23个机组），即便按预备数比例也只有1:2.56。这个人机比应付常规任务还过得去，但应 对战争就比较悬，一旦战损后补充飞行员比较难。对飞行员这类特殊人才不能完全按照普通单位定岗定人的做法， 应保留一些冗余度，面对战争威胁陆航要大力发展，人才应该先行。

第七，全疆域作战能力不强。陆航部长马湘生曾对媒体透露“这次执行任务的过程中，天气、地形都比较复杂，特 别是在狭窄地域内飞行活动频繁，给安全带来了极大压力，指挥协调组采取了一系列切实可行的科学措施。比如针 对各任务部队来自四面八方，特别是一些北方部队对南方的地形、天气不了解等问题，重点安排南方陆航部队直接 执行山沟任务，北方部队先执行一些亚高原任务，尔后逐步转入复杂地形。” 陆军集团军是担负有机动作战任务的野战部队，其编成内的陆航团也要“机动”起来，不能老在驻地附近训练和演 习。陆航规模本来就偏小，如有战事各团都有可能增援上前线，怎样才能熟悉各敏感地区的气候和地型呢？在现有 装备技术能力之内组织跨区训练是个有效的办法，就像地面部队一样。

looks interesting. Basically, he had many points, so I will do a summary here.
says the 2nd regiment was the most responsive and showed the best performance. It was training a lot before the quake, shows the high responsiveness of the regiment.
2nd regiment has 30 helicopter and they almost all were put to use, the blackhawks had a high sortie rate, shows how well maintained they are. The 1st regiment got the call on 15th and sent 22 Mi-17 into action.
a lot of talk about not having enough helicopter and transport helicopter. Having only medium transport helicopter like Mi-17, no heavy transport unless we include Mi-26.
The avionics on helicopters are generally simple, because the early Mi-17s all had very archaic avionics. Need to put Beidou navigation on these helicopters as soon as possible.

[tphuang]

I do agree that China needs a new heavy helicopter to aid with the situation. I guess the earthquake gives them plenty of ammunition to get funding for such development. Of course, it would be the best if they can work with Eurocopter. But what does Eurocopter have that fits this 20,000 kg criteria?

June 11 (Bloomberg) -- China's military commanders said they
will push for the development of rescue helicopters for use
during disasters because a lack of equipment hampered their work
after the country's strongest earthquake in 58 years.
The government had to use Air China Ltd. and China Eastern
Airlines Co. civilian aircraft to carry supplies and rescuers to
the central province of Sichuan, struck on May 12 by a force-7.9
quake. One of the People's Liberation Army's two Russian-made Mi-
171 transport helicopters, able to carry a four-ton load, crashed
on June 1 near the quake epicenter in Wenchuan.
The crash deprived rescuers of the ability to drop backhoes
and other earth-moving equipment in the quake zone to clear
rubble, an army spokesman said. China, with fewer than 150
civilian helicopters, may need 1,867 helicopters worth $4.9
billion by 2013, according to the government's forecast.
``We've learned our lesson,'' Senior Colonel Ma Gaihe, the
PLA's operational logistics director-general, said at a press
conference today in Beijing. ``We will emphasize the development
of aircraft and specialist equipment that can perform diverse
military tasks in non-combat situations.''
State-owned China Aviation Industry Corp. II agreed in 2005
to invest 600 million euros ($931 million) with European
Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co.'s Eurocopter SA unit to build
helicopters in China.
Eurocopter and Avic II plan to produce a medium-size
helicopter capable of carrying 16 passengers by 2011, according
to a September 2006 European Commission statement approving
French government aid to the project.

Police, Rescue, Firefighting

The EC175 model will be designed for police, rescue and
fire-fighting duties, capable of flying in worse weather than
current helicopters with improved safety and fewer emissions,
Eurocopter said on its Web site.
The military deployed 10,000 troops and volunteers, and used
satellite photos, infrared remote sensing and global positioning
technology to locate the wreckage of the Mi-171 helicopter and
its crew in Wenchuan's mountains. The helicopter, bought in 1993
from Russia, was found yesterday, nine days after its crash.
``Wenchuan is very mountainous with thick forests, making
the region inaccessible on foot,'' Ma said. ``Satellite photo
analysis took two to three days because the helicopter's wreckage
could easily be mistaken for mangled power-transmission towers
and other structures that had been destroyed by the quake.''
China's military and foreign ministry may also amend the
procedure for approving overseas aid offers, making it easier and
quicker for overseas defense forces to send relief aircraft, said
Chinese defense ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Hu Changming.

Continual Refinement

``The process is continually being refined,'' he said today,
without elaborating. Japan's Self-Defense Force, which offered on
May 28 to use military planes to carry supplies to the earthquake
zone, switched to civilian aircraft two days later.
More than 69,000 people died and 15 million people were made
homeless by the May 12 tremor, with another 17,000 people missing
in the quake zone. The earthquake was China's highest magnitude
since a 8.6-magnitude tremor killed 1,526 people in Tibet in 1950.
The People's Liberation Army sent 130,000 soldiers and armed
police to the disaster zone, its largest peace-time deployment.

[cooker]

but eurochopters tends to be expensive it would not be ideal to be mass equip by PLA. instead the robust Mi-17v5/v7 and Z-8F should be mass produced and i believe has already started.

[Pointblank]

but eurochopters tends to be expensive it would not be ideal to be mass equip by PLA. instead the robust Mi-17v5/v7 and Z-8F should be mass produced and i believe has already started.

They are however, more sophisticated, more advanced, and much more capable than most of China's own helicopters or Russian ones for that matter.

Remember that the Mi-17 and the Z-8 are both 40 year old platforms that have been extensively upgraded. There comes a point where further upgrades are no longer economically feasible; I believe the Chinese have realized this. There is only so much they can shoehorn into a ageing airframe design before it can hold no more.

A lot has passed since the Z-8 and the Mi-17 were designed; for example, the higher use of composites, more advanced rotor blade design, and better streamlining have produced significant improvements over time.

[PrOeLiTeZ]

but eurochopters tends to be expensive it would not be ideal to be mass equip by PLA. instead the robust Mi-17v5/v7 and Z-8F should be mass produced and i believe has already started.
isnt the Z-8 pretty expensive unit cost price tag, im pretty sure it is but dont count on me for reliability....but yeah bit of a stall point for china right now

[cooker]

isnt the Z-8 pretty expensive unit cost price tag, im pretty sure it is but dont count on me for reliability....but yeah bit of a stall point for china right now

yet i assure u wont find any cheaper ones the size of Z-8

[Soviet General]

The PLAAF is just making more escuseses even though i would find thoes Mi-17 out dated still they should have send a force that can do the job right, thousands of life are at stake here, not to mention the already death tolls right now wich i lost count. Can some one remined me again please.

[PrOeLiTeZ]

The PLAAF is just making more escuseses even though i would find thoes Mi-17 out dated still they should have send a force that can do the job right, thousands of life are at stake here, not to mention the already death tolls right now wich i lost count. Can some one remined me again please.
the did send the right people to do the job, they sent engineers and medics, and experienced heli pilots...i think they would know the consequences and lifes at risk, better then anyone of us...death toll is 69,000+ and its not thousands of lives at risk its MILLIONS of lives at risk...the PLAAF aren't making any excuses they are stating they need more transports and heavly lifting air assests....the PLA and government reacted extremely fast to this situation

[maozedong]

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/jc/p/2008-05-28/U1335P27T1D502730F3DT20080528081400.jpg
China-made military transport planes to imagine large-scale strategic plans

http://i1.sinaimg.cn/jc/p/2008-05-28/U1335P27T1D502730F26DT20080528081617.jpg
China-made large passenger aircraft View

-- May 24 afternoon, Vice Premier and his party in the Shaanxi Provincial CPC Committee Zhang Dejiang, secretary of Zhao Leji, governor Yuan Chunqing, Lin, general manager of China's one route, accompanied by left-ming, a flying one route to the hospital, One route test flight homes, a Western-flight inspection. Zhang Dejiang from BAO-CHENG RAILWAY 109 of the tunnel construction site inspection after the rescue, made a special trip to visit the city of Xi'an Yanliang the air.

my oppinion is the performance of Chinese avition in the Wenchuan earthquake relief effort should be get more improved.see the following reports: When Chinese Vice Premier Zhang dejiang to see the state's key tasks of simulation models demonstrate the entire process, Zhang Dejiang very pleased. He said with deep feeling, in earthquake relief in the participation if it will play no small role. Tang Chang-hong said that in the face of this disaster, we more clearly aware of our mission shouldered by the urgency and importance.

本报讯 5月24日下午，国务院副总理张德江一行在陕西省委书记赵乐际、省长袁纯清，中国一航总经理林左鸣等陪同下 ，来到一航一飞院、一航试飞院、一航西飞考察。张德江是从宝成铁路109号隧道抢险施工现场考察后，专程来 到西安阎良航空城考察的。

　　5月24日16时，张德江考察一航一飞院，重点了解了国家重点型号的研制情况，并作出重要 指示。

　　在样机库，院长方玉峰、书记张亚平及总师唐长红向张德江副总理简要介绍了一航一飞院概况、在研型号以及 专业设置、试验室等情况。

　　当看到国家重点型号任务模拟全过程演示时，张德江十分高兴。他深有感触地说，在抗震救灾中如果有它的参 与将起到不小的作用。唐长红表示，在这次灾难面前，我们更加清醒地意识到我们所肩负使命的迫切 性和重要性。

　　这时，站在一旁的林左鸣总经理郑重表态：“请张副总理放心！虽然我们面临的困难很大，但我们中国一航上 下已经下定决心，坚决完成党和人民赋予我们的神圣使命，拼尽全力尽早将国家重大专项搞出来。”

　　张德江对国家重点型号的“心脏”表现出极大的关注。他说，“航空发动机是技术密集产业，它决定着飞机的 载重量、航程等关键指标。关键技术和设备买是靠不住的，我们只有依靠自己的力量、依靠我们的聪明才智，才能 打造真正属于我们的航空力量。如果搞不出自己的航空发动机，那我们将永远受制于人。我们所说的‘大飞机飞上 蓝天’，就不是真正意义上的飞上蓝天。”

　　“虽然我们面临诸多困难，但我们也有优势，可以通过联合攻关、军民结合等方式予以攻克。”

　　张德江说：“研制大飞机是几代航空人共同的梦想。现在，千载难逢的机遇历史性地落在我们身上，我们就一 定要勇于承担，以百倍的努力完成好党和人民的重托。这次中央下大决心搞大飞机，为我们提供了相当的环境条件 ，这就需要航空人形成合力，早一天让中国的大飞机飞上蓝天！”他说：“面对四川大地震，我们每个人在悲痛的 同时，也更加清晰地看到，拥有一支强大航空运输力量的重要性和迫切性。今天的中国越来越表现出它的实力和潜 力，当今的世界已离不开中国的参与。但要成为真正的世界强国，就必须拥有一支强大的航空力量，国家重点型号 正是振兴中国航空的标志性工程之一。因此，我们的目标只能有一个，那就是一定要让中国的大飞机 飞上蓝天！”

　　16时25分，张德江一行来到一航试飞院飞行监控大厅，院长刘选民向张德江副总理介绍了现场工作人员， 张德江和大家一一握手，并笑着对大家说：“试飞院的科研人员都很年轻啊。”在监控大厅，张德江观看了反映试 飞院整体情况的汇报片以及某重点型号专题片，并认真地听取了刘选民有关试飞院的工作性质、试飞的特点以及近 年来的主要工作汇报，不时点头表示赞许。

　　走出监控大厅，张德江一行来到一航试飞院改装厂房前。在整齐停放着十余种重点型号飞机旁边，型号总师、 试飞员和机务人员排成整齐的队伍。张德江和大家亲切握手，并兴致勃勃地登上飞机，观看了机舱设 施。

　　17时许，张德江一行来到一航西飞总装厂，与在厂房门口迎候的中国一航总经理助理、一航西飞总经理高大 成、党委书记孟祥凯等公司领导一一握手。厂房内整齐排列着正在进行总装的运七和“新舟”60系列飞机，张德 江不时地向工人们招手致意。

　　烈日照射下的停机坪上，“新舟”60、“飞豹”等飞机整装待发，试飞站员工在飞机下列队欢迎。张德江与 列队员工逐一握手。在某型号飞机前，张德江若有所思地注视着高大的飞机，听着高大成的汇报。随后，张德江登 上一架“飞豹”飞机，观看了驾驶舱。在“新舟”60停机坪，张德江还饶有兴趣地登上了即将交付奥凯航空公司 的“新舟”60飞机，对中国新一代涡桨支线飞机进行了体验。

　　在西飞国际厂房内，张德江一行受到了国航总厂员工的列队欢迎。张德江面带微笑地向大家挥手问好。在整齐 有序的总装型架间，张德江一边听着汇报，一边连连点头。在薛莹班，张德江亲切地和薛莹班员工一一握手，并称 赞说：“去年在中央电视台新闻联播里看到介绍你们班的事迹，我们大家要向你们班学习。”

　　(王莉芳 杜春江 王 莹 高社斌 王增军)