816 Traino Achieves 5000 Hours

28 July 2009

LCDR Kyle Langford, Training Officer with 816 Squadron, recently reached a major milestone in his flying career.

On the 05 February, LCDR Langford, who has been flying Seahawk helicopters since 1993, was flying a night sortie with HMAS Manoora (CMDR Stephen Dryden) as part of the aviation invigoration program when he clocked up his 5000th flying hour.

Having joined the Navy in 1980, LCDR Langford credits his achievement to the opportunities afforded to him by the Navy and his love of flying.

"My 5000 hours of flying have included many highlights such as my time at sea, especially my experience on an Indian Ocean Deployment with HMAS Sydney, landing on USS Constellation in a Squirrel 862, a Sea King embarkation in HMS Illustrious, experiencing RIMPAC in 1994 as the Seahawk Sensors Officer and my involvement in the Middleton Reef Rescue in 1998," he said.

More recently LCDR Langford says he has been very proud of his role as a Squadron training officer.

"Seeing aircrew join 816 Squadron, complete Operational Flying Training and go to sea having learnt how to operate in a complex and challenging environment is one of the best parts of my job," he said.

"The build up of confidence as Pilots, TACCOs and SENSOs progress through and complete their training is very rewarding."

Having achieved so many career highs LCDR Langford says his next two goals are to keep flying the Seahawk for as long as he can and help introduce the new Navy tactical aircraft into service.