Working in temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, an air transport team is clocking in record flying hours in the Middle East, despite the demanding conditions.

Supporting Coalition operations in the area, the 34-strong team deployed by the New Zealand Defence Force has clocked in over 200 flying hours on 32 missions to Iraq and Afghanistan since they deployed to the Middle East in early June.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft being towed to its position. Photo: Royal Australian Airforce.

The team have been noted for their performance in hot and dusty conditions by NZDF's Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Darryn Webb, who had just visited the team.

'The team has flown every single mission assigned to them by the ADF Joint Task Force,” says Darryn.

'Their rate of effort of about 85 flying hours per month is around double that of a similar aircraft in the fleet conducting military air operations throughout New Zealand and overseas.

'I am very proud of their achievements.”

The NZDF air transport team and their RNZAF C-130 Hercules aircraft have been operating as part of an Australian Defence Force (ADF) air mobility task group transporting freight and personnel in support of New Zealand, Australian and Coalition operations in the region.

'They have provided much needed strategic air support to Coalition operations,” says Darryn.

'Their performance has been outstanding, given the tough conditions they have to operate in.”

'They manage a high operational tempo, flying about 85 hours per month. They also have to contend with air temperatures in the mid-40s, with the metallic surfaces of equipment well above that.”

The NZDF contingent includes aircraft technicians, logistics specialists, maintenance personnel, and an Air Movements Load Team that is working as part of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Air Movements Unit supporting Coalition aircraft in the region.

'Working with the RAAF means handling a diverse range of tasks,” says the C-130 Air Loadmaster.

'My role varies from loading and unloading different aircraft, building cargo loads, processing passenger movements, marshalling heavy vehicles and facilitating VIP movements in and out of theatre.

'It's a challenging work environment. The temperatures exceed 45 degrees Celsius here and it is both physically and mentally demanding at times, especially when we are wearing body armour.”

He says that working as part of a Coalition force means 'we have to learn, adapt and incorporate foreign processes and procedures into our own and make it all work as harmoniously as possible”.

The NZDF contingent's deployment lasts until December 2016.