King Air’s debut role
32SQN’s navigator training aircraft used for passengers

TRANSPORT

By CPL Simone Liebelt and Peter Johnson

Some of the crew that deployed in the new King Air 350: LEUT Kimble Taylor, FLTLT Derek Singer, SQNLDR Stewart Dowrie and SQNLDR Greg Cashmere.

Photo by CPL Steve Duncan

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* The new King Air 350 – brought into service last year for navigator and observer training – transported 130 passengers over three weeks. The five 32SQN pilots and technician clocked up 100 hours over 46 flights.

A KING Air 350 used for navigator and observer training made a unique debut for No. 32 Squadron when it took on the role of a VIP passenger aircraft for Operation Sumatra Assist.

The twin-engine turboprop provided transport in Indonesia for senior ADF staff and Australian aid workers supporting the humanitarian relief effort.

It was the first King Air task for 32SQN, who officially took over operation of the new fleet from the No. 84 Wing Navigation Training Aircraft Detachment last December.

The B350 replaced the HS748 aircraft last year, which was retired after 37 years’ service. 32SQN XO Squadron Leader Stewart Dowrie, who was detachment commander in the second half of the deployment, said it was a unique task for the squadron.

“While the King Air has the capability to be used as a passenger aircraft, it is in support of navigator and observer training, so we don’t necessarily train for these kind of operations,” SQNLDR Dowrie said.

“Because we have a very experienced crew here, with varying degrees of backgrounds on different aircraft types, they were able to lend that experience to this operation to successfully accomplish the task.”

Over the three-week deployment, the aircraft operated out of Medan, Jakarta, Banda Aceh and Butterworth with an augmented crew of five 32SQN pilots and a Hawker Pacific technician.

The crew clocked up 100 hours and carried 130 passengers over 46 flights. SQNLDR Dowrie said while the demanding air traffic, bad weather and initial uncertainty was a challenge, the aircraft proved itself capable.

“Because it’s a brand new aircraft, we didn’t have any of the normal serviceability issues that tend to plague some of the older aircraft, so we never actually dropped a sortie during the whole operation,” he said.

“We were initially tasked with transporting the embassy staff in Jakarta and taking the commanders in and out of the field, but over the deployment we carried everybody from the Defence Attaché and JTF Commander to doctors and nurses, which helped free up C-130 resources for relief aid.

32SQN CO Wing Commander Grant Kelly said everyone involved in the deployment was outstanding.

“[After the tsunami] the whole ADF was asked what they could put on the line to assist, and as a commander you think through a situation like this as much as you can, but you have to trust your people to get the job done,” he said.

“While the squadron wasn’t on standby, within 24 hours the crew was airborne ...

“This deployment allowed us to bed down and test our procedures in a very chaotic and complex environment and ... we have learned some things about operating the aircraft. It has proven that 84 Wing have given us a very robust operation, comprehensive processes and well-trained people.”

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