Page 26 - AA 2018_11

Shipshape

“There was a dedicated checklist
of competencies,” he added.
“At the end of that the Aviation
Brigade Commander and the
Amphibious Task Group Commander
report back that, ‘yes, they have met
all their competencies’, and we certify
that as an operational capability.”
The joint operations certification
comes after both the MRH 90 and the
new CH-47F ‘Foxtrot’ Chinook of the
Townsville-based 5 Aviation Regiment
completed their own series of first of
class flight trials (FOCFT) which studies
each aircraft type’s flight envelope when
operating around the ship in various
wind conditions and sea states.
“The MRH-90 is our primary
platform for the amphib ships,” “We have already fitted in some
MAJGEN McLachlan said. deck landings and handling. It has a
“MRH has now been successfully high centre of gravity and a narrow
integrated, and we’ve been operating undercarriage, so there are specific
off all the spots on the ship now for techniques required to manage it on
nearly two years. the deck of a moving ship. But we
“After first of class it’s then a haven’t done the underway stuff yet.
process of learning how to operate “Tiger has been in the pipeline
aircraft from the ship,” he added. longer than MRH but, again, it is a
“How many maintainers do we complex helicopter,” he added. “There
embark? What spares do we need? are still commentators out there who
The information systems needed fixate on the journey – I’m not going
to record maintenance, data, the to apologise for the journey but, I
movement of ships, refuelling etc.” can say that right now, we’re the
After the successful integration of each other. So I find it really pleasing Top – The Tiger ARH has yet best operators of these aircraft in the
the MRH-90, the same activity needed that achievement on that joint to conduct underway flight world.
to be conducted for Chinook, and how capability is more advanced than we operations from the Navy’s “It is still more difficult to maintain
that aircraft interacts with the MRH. anticipated.” LHDs. Above – LHD HMAS than we would like, but it is now
“So now you’ve got two platforms,” MAJGEN McLachlan is very Adelaide with an MRH-90 on its generating a world-class output as
MAJGEN McLachlan continued. enthusiastic about the progress the flightdeck. defence well. The broad history is what it is,
“You have to have two sets of spares MRH-90 in particular has made in but we are pretty good at operating
and maintainers, and we need to work recent years. these things now and that’s really
out how to move the two aircraft types “I think there is still a perception pleasing. What we’re achieving is the
around the deck and down the lift, and about these helicopters being equal of AH-64E ‘Echo’ and Tiger
so on. So the workup process has been, problematic,” he said. “And I’m not elsewhere, we’re achieving very similar
as you would expect, quite thorough going to pretend their generation availability and very similar levels of
and detailed. hasn’t been problematic. capability.”
“At the end of that we do a “But MRH-90 is turning into a There has also been some reported
combined tactical mission,” he added. magnificent helicopter,” he added. electro-magnetic interference between
“Two different types of aircraft “I think it is truly world-class, and Tiger and the complex electronic
coming together, command and control, our rate of effort achievement is now equipment aboard the ships, although
some slinging loads, some carrying such that we’re leading the world. MAJGEN McLachlan is confident
personnel. So, it’s really making sure In fact, in almost every case the time these can be overcome.
you build that ‘Lego wall’ of capability in the pilots have behind the stick is at “There is a technical component to
good order, confirming that you’ve got the leading edge for most complex all of these evaluations,” he said.
each piece in place, and then adding the helicopters in the world.” “We need to make sure there are
next level of complexity. While Exercise Hamel was the first no mission issues – we don’t just want
“It’s been great cooperation opportunity to provide realistic tactical to stick it on there and hope for the
between Navy and Army,” MAJGEN conditions to fully test the combined ‘We need to best. Adding an armed helicopter
McLachlan said. “What’s particularly MRH-90 and CH-47F operations obviously is another jump forward,
pleasing is our young people are now from the LHDs, these were also make sure but we already have some of those
just getting on with it and working integrated with land-based Tiger ARH competencies with Romeo and other
together – this ‘jointery’ is becoming helicopters for integrated aviation there are armed aircraft. It’s all doable, but it is
really quite powerful. battle group operations. The next step a process we have to go through in a
“I think that is for a whole range for Tiger is to integrate it with the no mission deliberate manner.
of reasons, a lot of them have been LHDs as well. “I would hope, by Talisman
together on operations overseas, and “Tiger will be the focus of our next issues.’ Saber 2019, to have all three aircraft
a lot of the leaders have come through round of integration over the next 12 types operating off the LHDs as a
the ADFA generation, so they know months,” MAJGEN McLachlan said. MAJGEN GUS MCLACHLAN confirmation of the capability.”

26 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION