Blackout
EXERCISE Pitch Black 04 dominated activity and attention across the Air Force for three weeks, but its effects will be even more far reaching.

US award to our officer
THE US has recognised the officer who oversaw the first Australian fighter deployment into a war zone since the Korean War.

Farewell to Solomons
THE drawdown of Air Force elements involved in Operation Anode is all but complete – coming soon after the first anniversary of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

Operations celebrated in parade
“TOWNSVILLE lined the streets” was a part of a line in a song about Vietnam but its spirit was relived on August 2 when Townsville’s people turned out in force to cheer a parade of ADF members who have served overseas on recent operations.

Help for bashed up in long drive for smiles
THE Variety Help Bash is putting its credo of “drive the miles for the smiles” to the test this year as it pushes its participants to travel the furthest they ever have to raise money for needy children.

Iraq duty at an end
THE 60 members of the Air Traffic Control Detachment at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) are scheduled to return home in mid-August.

Rwanda tax ruling
RWANDA veterans waiting for tax exemption refunds should see them shortly now that an Australian Taxation Office (ATO) review has been completed.

Accidents can happen
RAAF Base Amberley personnel do not need reminding that their airfield accident training exercises could become reality.

Laser warning systems scrutinised
PROVIDING aircrew with high confidence levels in laser warning systems is one of the main long-term aims of a recent series of successful air, land and sea experiments. The trials tested ADF and international laser threat systems against a variety of laser warning sensors mounted on board a C-130H aircraft and a landing craft heavy.

Health info rolls out
THE roll-out of the ADF’s revolutionary new health information management system, HealthKEYS, will begin on August 16 in units based in Darwin.

Air Force’s new plan links work to vision
AIR Force personnel should be able to see clear links between the objectives of the latest Air Force Plan and the initiatives being planned across Air Force, according to CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston.

Ministerial reshuffle in Defence portfolio
A FEDERAL Cabinet reshuffle has resulted in two changes within the Defence portfolio. Fran Bailey is the new Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence.

Never too old to learn
CHAPLAIN (Flight Lieutenant) Bruce Grey has created history as the oldest graduate to march out with his fellow students from the Initial Officers’ Course (IOC) at Officers’ Training School, RAAF Base Williams, Point Cook.

Over 1000 security clearances changed
MORE than 1000 permanent and Reserve Air Force personnel have had their Secret or Top Secret security clearance downgraded to Confidential as part of the Defence Security Authority’s revalidation program.

ADF intel numbers may rise
MORE military personnel are likely to be assigned to Defence’s intelligence agencies as a result of the Federal Government accepting all the recommendations of a report into Australia’s five intelligence agencies.

Iron exhibition
IT STARTED at Long Island with Alan Bond lifting Australia II out of the water to reveal the secret weapon – the winged keel – and the tradition continues with a small band of Aussies taking trophies away from their American hosts.

Farewell, old England
AUSTRALIAN and Canadian Air Force officers and their families serving with the United Kingdom’s Defence Logistics Organisation have held their traditional farewell barbecue for probably the last time. About 100 guests attended the event at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire, in late June.

Hitting the flight deck
CORPORAL Adrian Taylor and Leading Aircraftman Sean McLeod, both geospatial imagery analysts, found themselves all at sea during last month’s Exercise RIMPAC 04. They were on board the giant nuclear- powered Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis.

Banding together for game
IN A show of solidarity across the Tasman, the RAAF Air Command Band has combined with the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band to make history.

Shorn but not forgotten
HE’S outlasted 11 Air Commanders, but after 30 years’ dedicated service, RAAF Base Glenbrook barber Brain Davies has hung up his clippers.

History display
AN AIR Force history display has gone on show in R1, Canberra, until August 20 and is available to other bases, units and squadrons to use for events. Booklets showing both sides of each of the panels are being distributed to all base military administrators or PAOs, and selected overseas offices.

Talks about the future
NETWORK-centric Warfare and the Future of Air Power is the theme of the Air Force’s biennial Air Power Conference in Canberra from September 16-17 at the National Convention Centre.

Bulletin Board

In Brief