It's a familiar drill for every pilot before every mission. He arrives at the base and enters the command room where everyone is gathered to receive orders. Maps and various screens are being studied. Along with his colleagues, he meets with Brig. Gen. Pilot Muhammad Sa'eed Jibran Al-Qahtani, Commander of the Second Land Forces Air Squadron in the Southern Region and his assistant Col. Pilot Abdul Qader Al-Otaibi. This is the place that prepares each flyer for every mission by identifying targets and routes. It is also the place they will be debriefed when they return. They fly Apache helicopters, Desert Falcon jets and reconnaissance planes – some of the most advanced machinery in the world. The pilot stands in front of the map and studies his targets meticulously. He goes over to the screens to see the targets that have to be struck. Then he leaves quietly. Prayers are heard: “May Allah grant you victory, the lions of Abdullah.” A small van arrives and the pilot and his assistant are taken to the plane. Before climbing into it, he has to check the fitting of ammunition: bombs and rockets known as “Hellfire.” Vision systems are double-checked. Another team checks the control systems for the fans. The pilot brings the checklist and asks the technicians to leave the plane so he can conduct a final check. He is assisted by his co-pilot. They climb into the cabin of the Falcon, and in a rush of noise, takes off on their mission. The airfield has now turned into a beehive of activity. As planes prepare for take-off, another arrives. Tests are taking place on some, maintenance on a few more. Some are being re-armed. Three hours later, the Falcon returns and the pilot and his co-pilot emerge unscathed. He has a wide grin on his face. The targets have been struck with pin-point accuracy. Laser technology, he says. Before he reaches the Operations Room, the pilot switches on his mobile telephone. He is phoning home, to inform his family he has arrived safely. Now preparation takes place for a night sortie. The equipment used by the pilot is different. He has to use night vision systems to see the targets clearly. “At night we can see the infiltrators because we have plans and tactics to expose them and hit them with illuminating bombs. We also carry out other operations on the battlefield which we cannot reveal.” After each mission, after every phone call home to tell his loved ones he is safe, debriefing takes place. New plans are laid out. News arrives that the Crown Prince has returned home safely. The pilots congratulate each other. The message is also sent out to those men fighting on the border. There is much celebration.
