Aviation ground crew have loaded fuel and inert ordnance onto AH-64E Apache helicopters to prepare for the new attack platform’s first live-fire later this year.

Commanding Officer 1st Aviation Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Jason Perrins said Exercise Possum Walk, conducted at RAAF Base Townsville and Townsville Field Training Area last month, was an important milestone for ground crew and pilots.

“The reason for Ex Possum Walk is to be sure that our crews are ready to do what they do every day, which is load and employ an attack helicopter,” Lieutenant Colonel Perrins said.

“They have all done their basic Apache training and so now we are taking that next step … where we're getting them to load inert ordnance.

“They are loading by day and night, so they’re doing it on night-vision goggles at night, which is just another level of risk that they haven’t experienced yet.” 

Lieutenant Colonel Perrins said the exercise was a crucial step for the growing cadre of Apache pilots.

“The aircrew are getting the opportunity to then fly with the helicopter that’s a little bit heavier with that inert ordnance on board,” he said.

“This allows them to fly inert ordnance profiles and practise the range procedures they will employ while firing live munitions.”

'So identifying targets further out, and being able to communicate that quickly to various data systems – we haven’t been able to do that before.'

Trooper Tyson Higgins, an aviation ground crew member with 16th Aviation Support Battalion, said the exercise gave them a chance to familiarise themselves with the aircraft and develop standard operating procedures.

“For aviation ground crew, that involves our marshalling in of the aircraft. We’ll conduct hot refuels at the end and also loading on and unloading of our inert explosive ordnance,” Trooper Higgins said.

“We’re getting better with our communication, hand signals and just more confidence about each other; and as a team, we’re picking up each other’s little quirks and encouraging each other.”

Lieutenant Colonel Perrins said the Apache offered significantly more to the integrated force than the Tiger ARH it was replacing.

“Its sensor suite, communications suite, is beyond anything the other attack capabilities have at this time,” he said.

“It enables our crews to provide situational awareness to the integrated force that wasn’t feasible with the Tiger.

“So identifying targets further out, and being able to communicate that quickly to various data systems – we haven’t been able to do that before.”

Later this year, 1st Aviation Regiment, with support from 16th Aviation Support Battalion, will load live ordnance on Exercise Possum Guns.

“That will be an actual live-fire activity here in Townsville, where the ground crew and aircrew will use live ordnance for loading and take it up to the range and fire live rounds onto targets,” Lieutenant Colonel Perrins said.

“This significant step will be the first time an Australian Apache has conducted a live-fire here in Australia.”