20 August 2025
Enabling control of the airspace from austere airfields, the mobile air operations tower (MAOT) is an excellent example of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) deployed capabilities, shared with Canadian partners on Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.
The MAOT provides air traffic services at expeditionary airbases such as RAAF Base Curtin, where it was deployed as part of Talisman Sabre.
Officer in Charge of the MAOT, Squadron Leader Lisa Tonkins, said the interoperability of RAAF and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) air traffic controllers had led to some significant training milestones.
“The team consists of 27 personnel including air traffic controllers, technicians and logistics staff to help us get our gear to where we need to be,” Squadron Leader Tonkins said.
“What's special about this particular deployment is that for the first time the RAAF have endorsed air traffic control qualifications for Royal Canadian Air Force controllers.”
Integrated within the MAOT team were five RCAF members consisting of two visual flight rules controllers (tower controllers), a single instrument flight rules controller (radar controller), a flight adviser (non-commissioned member) and an aerospace telecommunications and information systems technician who keeps the gear running.
'We've blended quite seamlessly where a Canadian controller can leave their shift and an Australian can take over straightaway.'
Captain Eric Hiltz, Expeditionary Air Traffic Management Officer from the RCAF, said the endorsements had been a huge proving ground.
“It is a first with a partner nation outside of the United States,” Captain Hiltz said.
“The main objective for us on Exercise Talisman Sabre was to demonstrate rapid interoperability with the RAAF which has been an outstanding success for both parties.”
Squadron Leader Tonkins said the integration between Canada and Australia had come easily.
“We have so much in common just from our trade and we've blended quite seamlessly where a Canadian controller can leave their shift and an Australian can take over straightaway,” she said.
“We're eating together and living together so the teams have bonded really well.”
The MAOT’s success during Talisman Sabre 2025 exemplifies the strong relationship Australia shares with its international partners.
“It’s been a fantastic partnership; we view this as a nascent relationship and one that we really want to continue to build on in the future,” Captain Hiltz said.
“This is just a small step in what we hope to be a long path for working more closely together.”
