English: Royal Air Force 33 Sqn Puma's conduct winter training, including snow landings and under slung loads, in the mountainous region above Bardufoss, Norway.

Exercise Clockwork 06 is a 14-week training exercise run from December 05 to March 06 and held at the Northern Norwegian Air Force base of Bardufoss. Its aim is to prepare personnel from all three services to operate in extreme cold weather environments such as might be experienced during winters in the Balkans or Afghanistan.

Throughout the flying phase of the exercise, Joint Helicopter Command Battlefield helicopter crews from the Royal Air Force, Army and Royal Navy, practiced such skills as snow landings in ‘whiteout’ conditions, moving personnel from point to point and conducting navigation exercises.

Personnel from 33 Squadron RAF Benson, also practised carrying under slung loads beneath their Puma helicopters during both day and night operations. During the 3rd phase of the exercise, participants attended a cold weather survival course, and spent 5 days and 4 nights in the Arctic environment of the 500 metre high Norwegian mountains surrounding Bardufoss where temperatures dropped as low as minus 32 degrees and visibility fell to just a few metres. Mandatory for all personnel who have not done survival training, they learnt how to survive in the sub zero temperatures by digging snow holes, navigating in the harsh terrain and responding to an enemy attack.

This image was entered in the above category as part of the RAF Photographic Competition 2006.

• Organization: RAF
• Object Name: Snow Cat
• Category: MOD
• Supplemental Categories: Equipment, Aircraft, Helicopters, Puma
• Keywords: RAF Photographic Competition 2006, Puma, Exercise Clockwork 06, Norway, Snow, Air to Air, Bardufoss, 33 Sqn, Royal Air Force, RAF, Equipment, Helicopter, HC1
• Country: Norway