 |
|
The
Naval Aviation Sea Survival Centre at HMAS Albatross.
|
|
Photo:
ABPH Bill Louys
|
Manager
of Aviation Training at Albatross’ TA-AVN, LCDR Steve Hancock
and his team are regularly called upon to instruct “frequent
flyers”.
These are not the people who receive free tickets because they
fly often, they are members of the ADF who regularly use RAN helicopters
to move from shore to ship, or ship to ship.
They include senior naval officers and the staff members who accompany
them and boarding party members.
It is the job of LCDR Hancock and his full time team, assisted
by the Reserve divers of AUSCDTFIVE to train people to escape
from a helicopter should it go down in the ocean.
They operate the Naval Aviation Sea Survival Centre. The $4.5
million centre was opened in August 2002.
The purpose-built facility has a 20m long by 4m deep pool, a 3m
wet winching platform, a 6m surface swimmer dive platform, a classroom,
change facility, maintenance area and an underwater viewing enclosure.
A vital part of the training is Helicopter Underwater Escape Training.
The centre has a number of core personnel it needs to train.
Firstly there are the pilots, observers and sensor operators who
operate the RAN’s four types of helicopter.
Then there is training for boarding party members who may have
to fast rope from a Seahawk or Sea King on to the deck of a ship
which has to be checked.
