Lt. Col. Tim Rapp makes a few opening remarks for the start of Pacific Airlift Rally 2011 Aug. 22, 2011, at Ratmalana Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka. PAR is a Pacific Air Force sponsored, biennial multilateral tactical military airlift symposium. Airmen from the Royal Australian Air Force, Sri Lankan Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force and U.S. Air Force are participating in the one-week exercise. Rapp is the commander of the 36th Expeditionary Squadron. (Defense Department photo/Master Sgt. Cohen A. Young)
More than 300 military members from the Royal Australian Air Force, Sri Lankan Air Force, Malaysian Air Force and U.S. Air Force gathered together for the start of Pacific Airlift Rally 2011 Aug. 22, 2011, at Ratmalana Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka. PAR is a Pacific Air Force sponsored, biennial multilateral tactical military airlift symposium and exercise held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Defense Department photo/Master Sgt. Cohen A. Young)
Senior Airman Monica Oshin has a conversation with Sri Lanka Air Force Flt. Sgt. Adika Riarachichi during a meet-and-greet session for the start of Pacific Airlift Rally 2011 Aug. 22, 2011, at Ratmalana Airport, Colombo, Sri Lanka on Aug. 22 for the start of Pacific Airlift Rally 2011. PAR is a Pacific Air Force sponsored, biennial multilateral tactical military airlift symposium. The exercise enhances military airlift interoperability and cooperation between the nations of the Indo-Pacific region. (Defense Department photo/Master Sgt. Cohen A. Young)
by Master Sgt. Cohen A. Young
Defense Media Activity
8/23/2011 - COLOMBO AIRPORT, Sri Lanka (AFNS) -- More than 300 military members from the U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Sri Lankan Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force gathered together for the start of Pacific Airlift Rally 2011 Aug. 22 here.
PAR is a Pacific Air Force sponsored, biennial multilateral tactical military airlift symposium held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
It's designed to enhance military airlift interoperability and cooperation between nations of the Pacific Region, so they are familiar when working with one another during humanitarian missions.
"An exercise like this is good because it allows everyone to fly with each other and see how they do things," said RAAF Flt. Lt. Christian Yates-Round. "It enables us to do well together in case of a real world emergency or disaster."
"This gives the Sri Lankan Air Force crews an opportunity to work with and understand the procedures and philosophies adapted by the other nations that may come to our aid in a time of need," said Sri Lankan Air Force Commander Sarike Aranayake. "It also prepares us to help out in a situation anywhere in the world."
The crews will exchange techniques in several types of humanitarian mission scenarios that will involve not only air to land techniques, but personnel drops as well.
"This is my first time working with the Sri Lankans, and I'm really looking forward to it so we can see how we both do things and then see what we can learn from each other," added Yates-Round.
This exercise re-energizes a training relationship that was previously established.
"No one in the U.S. Air Force has had the opportunity to come train in Sri Lanka in 20 years," said Lt. Col. Tim Rapp.
PAR will run from Aug. 22-26 and will have aircrews from each nation flying daily to produce a cohesive team by week's end.
"Day one won't be as effective as day five as we get familiar with one another and what each other needs, but by week's end, we'll be flying as one in the same air space," Rapp said.
