Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

Recce at the bay

Vigilant: Lt Alex Tooms, A Sqn, 5 Avn Regt, co-pilots an Iroquois during a range reconnaissance mission at Shoalwater Bay.

By Lt Simone Heyer

WITH morning-fresh air on one side, and a US Navy Hornet pilot on the other, a range reconnaissance flight of SWBTA during Exercise Talisman Sabre promised to be an interesting experience.

Iroquois pilots Lieutenants Luke Brandley and Alex Tooms were to clear areas of the range before laser, or live firing began. During the recce, the helo would land on one of the islands used in aircraft bombing missions. The Hornet pilot would set up a heat target – a 44-gallon drum with fuel, so the jets would have something to aim at later in the day.

While the passengers were concerned about the icy air filling the chopper, the pilots and loadmaster, Tpr Darren Magor, were scanning the ground for livestock or people in the exercise area.

One of seven Iroquois deployed on the ex would fly the daily range recces. 21C A Sqn (UH1H) Capt Patrick Bridge was back on the ground at the Huey’s exercise base.

He said A Sqn’s primary roles were to provide AME support, support the exercise, assist the white and red force in moving people and resupply around the exercise area.

In addition to providing helo support to 2RAR with patrol insertions, the Hueys had the unique opportunity to work with clearance divers during helo casting.

Capt Bridge said the squadron wasn’t only providing support to elements of the exercise, but also benefited from training in the field.

“Junior pilots have been qualifying in NVD and there has been a lot of formation flying. With that people become aware of the safety implications involved with that kind of flying.”

“Exercise Talisman Sabre is a good controlled environment to do the training.”

He said 78 staff made up the squadron’s exercise commitment; pilots, loadmasters, tradesmen, RAEME, Avn sigs, Q-ies, support staff, aircraft and mission support staff.

OC Maj James Brown said the squadron did a good job on the exercise.

“We have to be responsive because of the nature of tasking,” he said.

“It can be complex to arrange the best possible outcome, particularly with short-notice tasks.”

The squadron has been busy the past few years. In January and February they deployed to Banda Aceh, in late 2003, to the Solomon Islands and were in Bougainville for three and a half years.

Capt Bridge said from June 30 to July 7 the squadron completed Exercise Destrier Strafer, a door gunnery exercise.

He said a qualifying shoot for recently trained loadies would be a multi aircraft tactical mission by night.