LCDR Cann and LEUT Casey and PO Howe with their long service medals.

The Chief of Navy, VADM David Shackleton has visited the RAN's Laser Airborne Depth Sounder unit based at Cairns Airport.

The visit coincided with a visit CN made to Cairns last month when he brought uniformed and civilian members of the RAN up to date with his Commitment to Future Directions for the Navy.

Following his address at the Brothers Leagues Club and lunch at HMAS CAIRNS, the OIC of LADS ,LCDR Gareth Cann escorted VADM Shackleton on a tour of the unit's facilities and gave him an operational briefing.

VADM Shackleton was introduced to all personnel along with those who recently began a five week LADS operators course.

The visit by CN was just one of a number of incidents involving the LADS team.

Earlier this year LCDR Cann presented LEUT Damian Casey and POHSM Paul Howe with their Defence Long Service Medals.

The presentations took place on the tarmac.

LEUT Casey has been embarked in LADS for about six months and is the Survey Systems Manager.

PO Howe has been with the unit for four years as its flight coordinator and relief SSM.
On September 27 the Fokker flew its 1200th sortie.

The milestone came when the aircraft was surveying from Cairns Reef to Forrester Read off Cooktown.

The results of this survey will provide data to complete sounding coverage required for the production of the new chart edition of AUS 831.

Since inception and the completion of sortie 1200, the total area surveyed by the Fokker was 18,102 square nautical miles.

Hours flown totalled 5046.