CDRE Geoff Ledger, far left, and CDRE T.A. Dadswell (Rtd), far right, were on hand to present Medallions of Merit to PO Colin Paton, middle left, and SBLT Andrew Collard.

Three Navy aviators have been honoured by the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia.

Medallions of Merit were presented by CDRE T.A. “Toz” Dadswell (Rtd) to SBLT Andrew Collard, PO Colin Jeffrey Paton and LS Colin McCallum.

SBLT Collard, an Aerosystems degree qualified engineer, placed first in the Air Engineering Officer Application Course.

SBLT Collard is part of the Navy Aviation Project Office engineering team, involved primarily with air vehicle design issues with the Seahawk S-70B-2 fleet.

He will also be involved with System Safety program aspects of the modification and transition of the new capability into Naval Aviation service.

The course covers the management, coordination and supervision of aircraft maintenance activities at the squadron level and on detachments ashore and embarked.

The course also covers the increased responsibilities for the management of aircraft configuration, performance testing, Quality Assurance and Occupational Health and Safety.

PO Paton received his award for acheiving first place on the Chief Petty Officer Aviation Advanced Technician Training Course.

PO Paton recently posted from 816 Squadron to the Navy Aviation System Program Office to take up a position within the Seahawk Avionics Engineering and Logistic Management section.

His duties centre on the continued maintenance of the Seahawk Anti- Submarine Warfare capability and the supporting on-board systems.

He also plays a significant role in research and development of future Anti Submarine Warfare capability.
The Aviation Advanced Technical Training Continuum is designed to provide the RAN with Chief Petty Officers who
can undertake the demanding duties of the Flight Senior Maintenance Sailor.

Graduates are awarded with a Diploma of Aerospace Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
LS McCallum achieved first place in the Basic Aircrewman Course, graduating as Dux.

He is posted to 723 Squadron, at present serving in HMAS Tobruk as the Flight Deck Marshaller.
His award was accepted by LCDR David Milnes of 723 Squadron and will be sent to the Commanding Officer for
presentation.

During a recent deployment in HMAS Anzac he provided excellent service, consolidating his aviation skills in a number of demanding tasks, notably the ship’s re-supply at Christmas Island.

The task was solely supported by the embarked helicopter because high seas prevented the barge and ship’s boats conducting any form of replenishment

LS McCallum is onward posted to 816 Squadron for Operational Flying Training in the Seahawk helicopter.
The Fleet Air Arm introduced the Medallions of Merit in 2002 and they are presented annually.

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