What
will all this mean for the local Nothern Territory community?
There will be approximately another 700 personnel deployed to
RAAF Base Tindal and a further 1000 personnel deployed to RAAF
Base Darwin and approximately 75 aircraft participating altogether.
The
Northern Territory community can expect to see aircraft and personnel
participating in Exercise Pitch Black arriving in the week prior
to its official opening on Sunday 18 July.
The Delamere Air Weapons Range near Tindal is being utilised for
the exercise. However, there will be little to observe in those
missions conducted around Tindal, other than in the cases where
flying may be near a township.
The
community can also expect to see an increase in the number of
military road transport between Katherine and Darwin.
In
the over land area between Darwin and Tindal observers will potentially
see some fighter aerial manoeuvres. As always, care will be taken
by exercise participants to avoid identified noise sensitive areas.
On
clear days people below the overland airspace may see fighter
jets air-to-air refuelling from large 'tanker' aircraft. They
may also see flares being released from the jets during day and
night missions. Flares are used by aircraft as tactical decoys,
and are used to practice defensive techniques.
Flares
burn brightly for a short time before dissipating, much like a
firework. To prevent hot flare discharges from contacting the
ground, they are only allowed to be released above certain altitudes.
What environmental responsibilities does Defence have with this
exercise?
Minimising
impact on the environment is a responsibility that Defence takes
seriously and was taken into account when planning for Pitch Black.
An Environmental Management Plan was developed for the exercise
which details mitigating actions including (but not exclusively):
- A
public information campaign to advise communities of the Exercise
and what they can expect including identification of areas of
low flying activity
-
No flying before 8:30am or after 10:30pm and no planned exercise
flying on Saturdays and Sundays, however there may be normal
military flying on weekends in support of normal activities
-
Avoidance of noise sensitive areas
-
Procedures for public information inquiries
-
No flares are to be used during any high fire danger period.
Members
of the public are encouraged to contact the exercise hotline if
they have any questions about Exercise Pitch Black activities.
