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Maritime lifesavers
By FLGOFF Skye Smith
Volume 49, No. 14, August 09, 2007 |
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Inset: AP-3C pilot FLGOFF Mark Laurence and Indonesian crewmember Lettu Pbn Iwan prepare for take-off during the exercise.
Photo by AC Glen McCarthy |
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AIRCREW ALLIES: 11SQN flight engineers SGT Peter Simms (left) and WOFF Mark Koschenow with Indonesian 5SKN flight engineer Lettu Tek Slamet in front of an AP-3C at RAAF Base Darwin during Exercise Albatros Ausindo.
Photo by AC Glen McCarthy |
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FAMILIARISATION: 11SQN tactical coordinator FLTLT Christopher Burt with Indonesian counterpart Letkol Pnb Veronica Tig at an AP-3C navigation station before an exercise sortie.
Photo by AC Glen McCarthy |
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Australian and Indonesian maritime surveillance and airborne air-sea rescue capabilities were recently tested during a combined Air Force maritime surveillance exercise.
Exercise Albatros Ausindo 2007 was held from July 17-20 in the Darwin area. The exercise has been running since 1977.
Albatros Ausindo involved an 11SQN AP-3C and an Indonesian Boeing 737 Surveiller from the TNI-AU’s (Indonesian Air Force) 5SKN.
It comprised sorties covering maritime surveillance and ‘search and survivor supply’ – where the aircraft were tasked to search for and find a survivor at sea and then drop lifesaving gear.
ACAUST AVM John Quaife and Indonesia’s Commander Air Force Operations Command 2, AVM Ida Bagus Sanubari, officially opened the exercise at a ceremony at RAAF Base Darwin on July 17.
“This exercise demonstrates the commitment between Australia and Indonesia in developing cooperative maritime surveillance procedures,” AVM Quaife said.
“Exercise Albatros Ausindo is one of our regular combined training activities, which are designed to increase our capacity to work together.”
11SQN CO WGCDR Warren McDonald said Albatros Ausindo provided a great opportunity to strengthen the Australian-Indonesian working relationship between maritime crews.
“Interoperability was the key focus of the exercise, and the crews were able to familiarise themselves with each other’s techniques and capabilities,” WGCDR McDonald said.
Aircrew and maintenance members from both nations worked together to achieve the exercise objectives and also took the opportunity to learn a bit about their different cultures.
FLTLT Chris Burt, tactical coordinator for crew 3 of 11SQN, was responsible for mission planning during his first time participating in the exercise.
“The [AP-3C’s] crew’s task was to investigate nominated radar contacts from the Indonesians and then gather more details of that contact.
“Our crews worked well with the Indonesian Air Force during the sorties” FLTLT Burt said.
“The Indonesian crew flew at a higher level, while the AP-3C conducted low-level operations in the same area to ensure a safe working distance [between the aircraft].”
Exercise Albatros Ausindo is one of 92WG’s combined training activities, designed to increase its capacity to work together with foreign maritime squadrons.
“We always look forward to participating in this exercise with our Australian allies,” AVM Sanubari said.
“Information is knowledge and this exercise is about sharing that knowledge”.
Late last year, 37SQN and the TNI-AU conducted a C-130 interoperability activity, Exercise Rajawali Ausindo, at RAAF Base Richmond.
In addition to combined training activities, the Australian-Indonesian Air Force relationship includes regular strategic level talks, exchange postings and educational exchange.
AIR FORCE News will feature more on Exercise Albatros Ausindo in the August 23 edition. |
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