Page 75 - AA 2018_09

38SQN

transition to the C-130J, C-17, “They would step up to the mark squadrons because they’ve seen the
KC-30A and C-27J compared to a and normally become a captain on one ‘The quality of pilot we’re producing.
posting straight off pilot’s course. of those other platforms quicker than “They’re getting a variety of
“We would develop guys and girls someone who had come straight off development experienced pilots who are at a good
straight off pilot’s course up to a pilot’s course.” standard.”
captaincy,” said SQNLDR Plenty. 38 Squadron pilot and former opportunities FLTLT Stephen Maunder, who
“Out of those, the ones that we XO SQNLDR Ross Benson admitted previously flew C-17s at Amberley-
could see were high performers, we it took some convincing, but AMG have been based 36 Squadron, said the wealth
kept pushing through training and squadrons eventually appreciated the of knowledge and experience passed
then we would essentially go and CV advantages of taking on a pilot who outstanding.’ on to his junior colleagues by veteran
them around the rest of AMG for had earned their stripes in Townsville. pilots at 38SQN had been invaluable.
larger aircraft roles. “What I found was that when pilots FLTLT STEPHEN MAUNDER “The development opportunities
“What they had was an accelerated here were pushing for other postings, for those junior drivers have
progression and those units realised initially it was hard to convince people been outstanding, especially with
after a while that when they got in other squadrons to take them on,” Sharing ramp space at those senior pilots who have more
someone from 38 with 500 hours or he said. Butterworth, Malaysia with experience than I could ever dream
1,000 hours as captain, they could “But after the first six or 12 months, an 11SQN AP-3C during a of,” he said.
progress quickly through their own almost all of the guys who have posted deployment to Exercise “One of the reasons why I posted
qualification scheme. out are in flying jobs with other Bersama Lima 16. defence to 38SQN is because we had a lot of
junior pilots who’ll go on to fly Hercs
and C-17s, so that mentoring was
critical from the senior drivers.
“It’s not just the flying and
captaincy aspect but more the
organisational understanding that the
experienced drivers have built up over
time. They’re exposed to a twin-engine
aircraft and are able to gain command
experience. They can run a mission,
whether that be a benign, one day
task going down the coast and back or
one to two weeks away dealing with
multiple government agencies.”
The flying gravel truck
A profile on 38 Squadron wouldn’t
be complete without discussing the
aircraft that helped it earn such a
stellar reputation in the field.
To be sure, there was nothing fancy

A Ready Combat Team conducts a security search
of a 38SQN King Air at RAAF Base Learmonth during
Exercise Northern Shield 2015. defence

SEPTEMBER 2018 75