34 SQN Its Special Purpose
It's been a busy 18 months for No. 34 Squadron with the introduction of two new special-purpose aircraft.

Story and photos by LACW Simone Liebelt

Tasking coordinator Sergeant Tom Neylon amends the Squadron’s schedule board.

Flying Officer Scott Bosman checks the flight settings during a pilot training session in a Challenger aircraft.

FOR a high-profile squadron whose schedule is hectic at the best of times, the challenge of introducing two new aircraft types into service during a period of intense operations is no small feat.

But it has been achieved by No. 34 Squadron, now in the final stages of transition to the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and the Bombardier Challenger 604 after 18 months of dedicated hard work by members of 34SQN, the Special Purpose Aircraft Management Unit, the Defence Materiel Organisation and Qantas Defence Systems.

Without an increase in staffing levels or a decrease in flight operations, the Squadron was set the demanding task of replacing the Falcon three-engine jet with two new two-engine jets and replacing military maintenance personnel with civilian contractors. This all occurred while RAAF Base Fairbairn was closing around them.

As a key player in delivering airlift capability, 34SQN provides transport to the highest levels of Australian and international Government.

Regular passengers include the Prime Minister, Governor-General, CAF and CDF, with varied taskings for cabinet ministers, senior Australian and foreign military officials, and visiting royalty, heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

The Squadron has carried members of the British royal family, including the Queen, on their visits to Australia.

On 24-hour standby, 34SQN maintains a high operational tempo, conducting everything from international operations into large international airports to domestic tasks into small country airports at short notice.

In the past year the new aircraft have travelled around the world with trips to the Middle East, US, Europe, China and Thailand.

Commanding Officer Wing Commander Noel Derwort leads the Squadron group photo in front of the BBJ and two Challenger aircraft at Defence Establishment Fairbairn.

Wing Commander Noel Derwort, 34SQN Commanding Officer, believes flexibility and versatility is the key to their success, with Squadron members and their dependants constantly sacrificing time and effort to maintain the high standard of service expected of the special-purpose fleet.

“We take passengers to places in timeframes that normal commercial aircraft couldn’t do, and given the sensitivities of the task, would not be allowed to know about,” WGCDR Derwort said.

“When we do a good job, the Air Force does a good job, and every single member of the Squadron, down to the person that cleans the aircraft, knows that.”

Transition to the new aircraft types has created many challenges for 34SQN, including the introduction of new technology for pilots and new emergency and flight procedures for crew attendants and the integration of civilian maintenance personnel into a military environment.

Flying Officer Flynn Kenney, a pilot, inspects the BBJ wheel bay as part of the flight check procedure before take-off.

Leading Aircraftwoman Kara Lukeman and Leading Aircraftman Geoff Stinson prepare drinks in the galley of a Challenger as part of their crew attendant duties.

Sergeant Trevor Payne, a supplier, chats with visiting US Air Force members, Sergeant Stephen Carroll III and Corporal Mike Camacho from Marine Helicopter Squadron One, Virginia, who were based at Fairbairn during President George W. Bush’s visit to Canberra.

Leading Aircraftman Derek Hynds from the equipment section unpacks gas masks used for Squadron training.

Personnel clerk Leading Aircraftman Andrew Sherrington serves a Squadron member in the orderly room.

Photo courtesy of 34SQN

“Since we’ve introduced the new aircraft, we’ve flown around the world five or six times to places the Air Force would have rarely been before without incident so the Squadron has done exceptionally well,” WGCDR Derwort said.

“We were given a major challenge and due to the efforts of every single member of the Squadron, I think everybody without fail takes a deep sense of pride in what we’ve been able to achieve.

It is the absolute exceptional quality of the people that makes us as a Squadron succeed.”

CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston and Deputy CAF Air Vice-Marshal Chris Spence have both expressed their satisfaction with the professionalism, dedication and positive attitude of all the members of 34SQN during the transition period.

.