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Carrying on the torch


Volume 49, No. 03, March 08, 2007
 
UP AND AWAY: Although the name has changed, the School of Air Warfare is carrying on the tradition of the School of Air Navigation, by providing first-class training to air combat officers and Navy observers in King Air training aircraft at RAAF Base East Sale.
Photo by Simone Liebelt
 
THE School of Air Navigation (SAN) may have a new name as from this year but the all-important torch of tradition and values has been handed on to the School of Aviation Warfare (SAW).

Fittingly, WGCDR Russ Page, with the change of his unit’s name, has become the last CO SAN and the first CO SAW.

Since its formation on February 5, 1946, SAN has graduated more than 2000 students, including OFFCDT Page, who graduated from No. 70 navigators’ course in June, 1987.

“While the renaming of SAN would seem to be the end of a distinguished chapter of Air Force history, its spirit will live on in its new form as SAW,” WGCDR Page said.

“The SAN crest of a burning torch of wisdom set upon the Southern Cross will be retained, so it truly could be said that SAW is taking up the torch from its noble predecessor.”

WGCDR Page is proud of the unit history which has demonstrated the ability of the school to evolve with the roles of the navigator and observer.

SAN was originally formed from the amalgamation of wartime Air Navigation, Air Observer and the Bombing and Gunnery Schools. The evolution continues with the introduction of the new Air Combat Officer category and its associated challenges.

WGCDR Page said the change was part of the reshaping and rebalancing of Air Force.

“The project determined that the future plans for the Air Force recognised that navigators, air electronics and air defence categories are involved in the direct application of air power and have similar core skills,” he said.

“Accordingly, they have been combined into the ACO category and will be awarded the Southern Cross Brevet on completion of their initial training at SAW.

“They will receive expert training from a dedicated team of qualified aviation instructors whose category experience will be invaluable to students. ACOs of the future will have many diverse roles to play in the security of Australia’s assets and interests.

“They could be tracking submarines onboard a multi-million dollar aircraft (the AP-3C replacement), defending the northern sea-air gap in an AEW&C aircraft, flying UAVs all over the world, controlling fighters from ground-based air defence, or controlling a weapon release from an F-111. ACOs are going to carry Australia’s war fighting capability into the next decade.”

SAW is supported by 32SQN flying King Air aircraft to conduct training sorties. Future training needs are being refocused and the new curriculum will be in place for January 2008 to begin the first dedicated ACO training course.

As well as training ACOs, SAW will continue to conduct Aircraft Integrated Systems and Weapons Employment courses, and train observers and photographers for the Australian and New Zealand Air Force and Navy.

“The School of Aviation Warfare is committed to continuing the SAN tradition of providing the Air Force with high quality graduates,” WGCDR Page said. “ACOs graduating from the school will be ready to fulfil the diverse and demanding roles required of them, both now and into the future.”