Editing Boeing CH-47 Chinook (section)

===Disaster relief===
The Chinook's ability to carry large, underslung loads has been of significant value in relief operations in the aftermath of [[natural disaster]]s.<ref name="Abraham disaster">Abraham, Suresh. [http://www.shpmedia.com/images/ADJ%2009%20TRANSPORT%20HELICOPTERS.pdf "Tactical Transport Helicopters in Humanitarian Relief Operations."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219035143/http://www.shpmedia.com/images/ADJ%2009%20TRANSPORT%20HELICOPTERS.pdf |date=19 February 2014}} ''ADJ'', April 2009.</ref> Numerous operators have chosen to deploy their Chinook fleets to support humanitarian efforts in stricken nations overseas. Following the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|2004 Asian tsunami]], the [[Republic of Singapore Air Force]] assisted in the relief operations in neighboring [[Indonesia]] using its Chinooks; similarly, after the [[2005 Kashmir earthquake]], the [[Royal Air Force]] dispatched several Chinooks to Northern Pakistan to assist in recovery efforts.<ref name="Abraham disaster"/>

[[File:Pinnacle manuever.jpg|thumb|left|A CH-47F practicing the pinnacle maneuver whereby soldiers are deposited without the helicopter landing completely]]
In August 1992, six CH-47Ds were deployed from [[Fort Bragg]] in North Carolina to provide relief in the wake of [[Hurricane Andrew]] in what was one of the first major helicopter disaster relief operations on US soil.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/28/us/hurricane-andrew-bush-sending-army-to-florida-amid-criticism-of-relief-effort.html |title=HURRICANE ANDREW; BUSH SENDING ARMY TO FLORIDA AMID CRITICISM OF RELIEF EFFORT |author=Edmund L. Andrews |journal=The New York Times|date=28 August 1992}}</ref> Then President [[George H. W. Bush]] ordered the military to assist. The Chinooks arrived at [[Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport]], just outside of the disaster zone, one day after the President's order; early on, they performed a wide loop over Homestead and Florida City to publicly display their presence, helping to curtail lawlessness and looting.<ref name="Research Paper 1993">Research Paper: Disaster Relief, World Vision and the Hurricane Andrew Relief Project. Published by World Vision Relief and Development, California. 1993.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/29/us/hurricane-andrew-troops-arrive-with-food-for-florida-s-storm-victims.html |title=HURRICANE ANDREW-Troops Arrive With Food for Florida's Storm Victims |author=Larry Rohter |journal=The New York Times|date=29 August 1992}}</ref> The Chinooks initially flew twelve sorties per day out of Opa Locka, which expanded over time, often supporting distribution operations at Homestead AFB and Opa Locka, as well as delivering relief payloads via internal storage, not using sling loads, supplementing the two dozen distribution centers and trucks, proving essential as trucks could not reach the worst hit areas due to downed trees and power lines. They flew everyday for approximately three weeks, moving supplies and personnel around the disaster zone as well as carrying media and government officials, including then Congressman [[Bill Nelson]]. Ultimately, the Chinooks supplied 64 distribution sites throughout the zone and transported 1.2 million pounds of supplies before the urgent relief phase ended.<ref name="Research Paper 1993"/>

[[File:USAID humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts for 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkiye 8.jpg|thumb|Humanitarian assistance being delivered by a Chinook after an earthquake]]
Three of Japan's CH-47s were used to cool Reactors 3 and 4 of the [[Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant|Fukushima Nuclear power plant]] following the [[Fukushima I nuclear accidents|9.0 earthquake in 2011]]; they were used to collect sea water from the nearby ocean and drop it over the affected areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/desperate_japan_to_use_water_cannon_wEUW3dMA3OhWqW6DWNU8YJ |title=Japanese military helicopters dump water on Fukushima nuclear power plant |work=New York Post |date=16 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724031911/http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/desperate_japan_to_use_water_cannon_wEUW3dMA3OhWqW6DWNU8YJ |archive-date=24 July 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=17 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0317/CH-47-Chinook-helicopter-begins-dumping-water-on-nuclear-reactor |title=CH-47 Chinook helicopter begins dumping water on nuclear reactor |author=The Christian Science Monitor |journal=The Christian Science Monitor|date=17 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113183634/http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0317/CH-47-Chinook-helicopter-begins-dumping-water-on-nuclear-reactor |archive-date=13 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In order to protect the crew from the heightened radiation levels present, a number of lead plates were attached to the floor of each Chinook;<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/topic/japan-earthquake/article/119408--concern-grows-over-spent-fuel-pools-as-crews-spray-nuclear-plant-with-water|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318174858/http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/topic/japan-earthquake/article/119408--concern-grows-over-spent-fuel-pools-as-crews-spray-nuclear-plant-with-water|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 March 2011|title=Concern grows over spent fuel pools as crews spray nuclear plant with water|first=Shawne|last=McKeown|date=17 March 2011|work=CityNews}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/japan-tsunami/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503051&objectid=10713272 |title= Japan crisis: Radiation levels begin to dip |publisher= nzherald.co.nz |date= 18 March 2011}}</ref> even with such measures, pilots had to keep their distance from the reactors while also limiting flight times in the vicinity to a maximum of 45 minutes to avoid excessive radiation exposure.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/a11893/robot-helicopters-could-be-headed-for-japan-5434307/ |title= Robot Helicopters Could Be Headed for Japan |publisher= popularmechanics.com |first= Joe |last= Pappalardo |date= 21 March 2011}}</ref>