By
Andrew Stackpool
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Hawks
participated in the three-week course.
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A
NEW group of probationary terminal attack controllers has graduated.
Flight Lieutenants Adrian Maso, from No. 76 Squadron at RAAF Base
Williamtown, and Mark Spencer, from No. 44 Wing Detachment at
RAAF Base Darwin, as well as six Army students completed the recent
No. 16 Terminal Attack Controller Course.
It has replaced the Forward Air Controllers Course.
The graduates are qualified to control aircraft carrying BDU-type
ordnance, but only after another six months training with their
unit will they graduate as fully-competent controllers.
Course coordinator Flight Lieutenant Scott McNichol, from the
FAC Development Unit, said the course aimed to train new controllers
to be competent at controlling aircraft in the close air support
role for operations in all conditions.
“They come out as jacks of all trades,” FLTLT McNichol said. “During
the two weeks’ theory, they are trained in communications procedures,
close air support doctrine, airspace (3D) battle management, air
to ground weapons employment, casualty training, Range Safety
Officer duties and responsibilities, the use of lasers and calling
for indirect fire support.
Also, with the integration of air power into the battle, they
need to get a good grasp on how air assets are and can be used
in ground support roles.”
During a week of practice at Singleton, each student gets the
opportunity to run a mission using each type of munition, including
laserguided training rounds.
Each student also gets a chance to manage an artillery call for
fire for marking purposes. The three-week course was supported
by “dry” F-111s, Hawks and PC-9s during the theory and F-111s,
F/A-18s and live ordnance drops during the fieldwork at Singleton.
A three-piece field artillery battery was involved for marking
and night illumination tasks. Nos 1, 3 and 76 Squadrons also supported
the course.
Two or three courses are run each year.
