 |
| THIS
WAY: LCDR Dave Frost shows the Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, the ropes
on a recent visit to HMAS Albatross. |
Photo:
ABPH Craig Owen |
By
staff reporters
Volume
49, No. 3, March 9, 2006
In
a major show of support for Navy aviation, the Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan
Nelson flew by Sea King Shark 22 to visit HMAS Albatross on February 23.
It
was one of the first Defence base’s Dr Nelson has visited since taking over
the portfolio in late January.
During the visit, Dr Nelson announced the
Government would make a decision this year on the replacement of the Navy’s
fleet of Sea King helicopters.
In the meantime, however, he expressed confidence
in the Sea Kings, confirming that all but one of the helicopters would be back
in the air by the middle of this month.
The final aircraft will return
to full operational service on return from deep maintenance.
“I have come
to Shoalhaven, to Albatross, and particularly on a Sea King, to send a message
to our Naval aviators, that we are very proud of them,” he said.
“I
think that Naval families and those that fly the helicopters and maintain them,
can be very proud of what these men and women do, and can be very confident, and
I’m extremely confident, that the Sea King is safe, and functionally operational.
Kings
to abdicate
 |
| SHAKE:
The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, is greeted by HMAS Albatross CO CAPT
Grant Ferguson. . |
“Navy
has undertaken a very significant maintenance configuration review,” Dr Nelson
said.
“The level of maintenance and supervision of the Sea King now is
as high, if not higher than it has been at anytime in the entire life of the helicopter.”
The
Minister’s confidence is centered on the RAN’s naval aviation Maintenance
Reinvigoration Plan (MRP) implemented in September last year. The MRP strengthens
Navy’s continuing commitment to aviation safety and maintenance.
CDRE
Tim Barrett, Commander Australian Navy Aviation Group, said that the MRP was comprised
of short- and long-term strategies aimed at enhancing safety and maintenance.
“The
plan addresses many aspects of naval aviation including educating the maintenance
workforce in human factors issues, maintenance, error reporting and general aviation
safety principles,” he said.
“We have also made significant changes
to the flying rates of aircraft to reduce the operational tempo, and changes in
the structure of the maintenance organisation within squadrons as well as changes
to the level of supervision.”
CDRE Barrett said that the longer-term
strategies now underway will look at more strategic workforce issues within the
ADF aviation airworthiness regulatory system, maintenance practices, changes to
the squadron schemes of complement, training aspects and auditing processes.
“Phase
1 of the Maintenance Reinvigoration Plan which included the education program
is now largely complete,” said CDRE Barrett. “Phase 2 – is a more
strategic phase – this will take longer to implement.”
“The
MRP is about changing culture in the workforce and this does not happen overnight.
That said, given the talent that exists in the current workforce, I feel confident
we can achieve this.”
CDRE Barrett also indicated that this was not an
issue unique to Navy and that the MRP was endorsed by the broader ADF airworthiness
authorities.
CDRE Barrett emphasised that the plan demonstrated that naval
aviation had not been standing still since the Sea King accident in Indonesia.
Much has been done in advance of whatever recommendations come out of the Sea
King Board of Inquiry.
During his recent visit to HMAS Albatross, the
Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, was briefed on Naval aviation capability,
the broader roles and aspects of naval aviation, the operation of the Sea King
fleet and other squadrons’ aircraft and future directions of Naval aviation.
Dr
Nelson was briefed by the Commanding Officer of each squadron.
He said he hoped
to have a replacement for the Sea King roll out by 2010.
“It is also important
for the morale of our aviators, and Naval seamen and women, [that] we are able
to give them some assurance, sometime this year, what the replacement program
will be for the Sea King,” he said..
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