Griffons in the (American) desert

The Globe and Mail catches up to the Yuma Sun (lots of further links at that one):

Training ground
Afghanistan's stunt double

Light training exercises with 408 Helicopter Squadron, based in Edmonton, Alberta. They go to Yuma, Arizona, to replicate the conditions of Afghanistan, where they're headed soon. Helicopters are Bell 412 Griffon's.

Before they can navigate through Kandahar's desert dust, dozens of Canadian pilots, gunners, mechanics and engineers must first rotate through Yuma, Ariz., to learn the tricks of flying in punishing conditions...