Media Room: Defence Alert

EXERCISE PITCH BLACK 2006 BEGINS

What:         Official Opening Ceremony for Exercise Pitch Black 2006

When:        Friday the 28^th of July 2006 at 9.30am

Where:       Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Darwin

Who:          Air Commander Australia, Air Vice-Marshal John Quaife, AM, will be available for interview.

Air Commander Australia, Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) John Quaife, AM, will officially open the Air Force’s largest Exercise, Pitch Black 2006, in an official ceremony involving personnel from all participating countries.

The ceremony will mark the beginning of the exercise ‘war’ in which scenarios involving opposing forces will be played out.

Air Force personnel from Australia, France, Singapore, Thailand, the UK and the US will all train together in this multinational exercise.

AVM Quaife is extremely pleased to be opening the exercise. “Exercise Pitch Black is a fantastic opportunity for Australian Air Force personnel to train with and learn from other nations,” he said. “It is a very important exercise and we thank the local communities for their continued support of Defence activities.”

Exercise Pitch Black is the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) largest exercise conducted in the Northern Territory and Western Australia from 28 July to 18 August 2006.

Media Note:
Members of the media are asked to assemble at the front gate of RAAF Base Darwin at no later than 9.10am, Friday 28 July 2006.

Further information (for media and the public):

Please contact the Exercise Pitch Black Public Information Centre on 1800 301 885.                                                                                                   

Or please visit the Exercise Pitch Black website at: www.defence.gov.au/pitchblack06