SGT Jamie Sumsion and WOFF Steve Unwin (above), AEA's attached to the Global Hawk project in the Australian Ground Element 'AGE' operating the Global Hawk sensors (below).

When Warrant Officer Steve Unwin became an Airborne Electronics Analyst nine years ago, he never would have believed one day he would be carrying out his normal duties while sitting on the ground in a modified shipping container.

But this accurately describes how WOFF Unwin and several of his P3 Orion aircrew colleagues are working during the Global Hawk Down Under 2001 deployment.

And while the Global Hawk's operations will lead to many new experiences, RAAF personnel working on the concept demonstration are excited, rather than daunted by all that is involved.

'Of course the primary difference will be that we'll have no take offs, landings, safety drills, turbulence and associated airsickness to worry about,' said WOFF Unwin.

'I think that once the door is closed, the lights are out and the sensors are running it won't make a great deal of difference and it's probably something you could get accustomed to.

'The operation of the sensor stations will be similar in many ways to the new sensors of the AP-3C aircraft. It may be like working in a simulator in some respects, although you will always need to be cognisant of the fact you are actually controlling and tasking sensors on an aircraft.'

WOFF Unwin is one of 34 RAAF personnel selected to work on the Global Hawk concept demonstration and considers himself 'very lucky' to get the call-up.

'A call went out for expressions of interest and, as I was on the lookout for something different to do, I put in an application and was fortunate enough to be chosen,' he said.

'Also, the Global Hawk training provided an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) Image Analysis course, which I knew would benefit me in transition to the AP-3C.'

Thirteen specialist RAAF aircrew members spent three weeks in the United States to gain the essential skills required to work on the Global Hawk project.

The first week saw them at the Ryan Aeronautical facility at Rancho Bernardo, north of San Diego, with the final two weeks at the US Navy's training facility at NAS North Island.

'We were all impressed by the capabilities of the aircraft and its sensor suite - even more so by the fact we would be the people operating and tasking the sensors and analysing the sensor data in near-real time flight,' said WOFF Unwin.

'The quality of the initial training, which included simulator exercises and analysis of previous Global Hawk flights, was excellent and by the end of the week we were all reasonably secure in our abilities and what would be required of us during the Global Hawk flights.'

The final two weeks of training were dedicated to ISAR Image Analysis - a true 'black art' and a skill not easily acquired or retained.

Fortunately, the USN trainers were able to provide RAAF personnel with expert tuition, with one 11 Squadron AEA, SGT Jamie Sumsion, becoming the first person to attain a perfect score on their final image analysis exam.

WOFF Unwin and his maritime colleagues will certainly be one step ahead when they transition to the AP-3C Orion.

'Global Hawk is providing me with the opportunity to gain experience on a whole new range of sensors, employing them directly via computer software, and all without leaving the ground!

'Additionally, my exposure to the Global Hawk Electro-Optics system will be invaluable to me as an operator when the AP-3C is fitted with a more capable Electro-Optics sensor in the future.'