Flight Training a Huge Success
28 October 2010
Since the 17th Sept, 723 Squadron’s helicopter Taipan 65 has been embarked onboard HMAS Success (Commander Anthony Rayner) and due to the hard work of both the ship and the flight have achieved a variety of taskings. The crew readily welcomed the flight and helped them integrate into the routines of life at sea quickly.
There were many challenges to overcome with a flight that was quite inexperienced and a Ship that hadn’t worked with aircraft in a significant period. Since leaving Sydney and venturing north, Success’ flight has managed to train and work up all of her aviation positions including Helicopter Controllers Officers, Flight Deck Marshallers and Flight Deck Teams. The experience has assisted the Ship’s company and the 723 SQN maintainers, most of whom had never been to sea before. Their training has included deck landing procedures, securing the helicopter, vertical replenishing, transfers and emergency procedures such as ‘crash on deck’. This training has also involved other units within the task group who have taken advantage of having an embarked flight to progress their own skills and training.
Having a flight onboard has given the Officers of the Watch (OOW) exposure to operating with an aircraft within a task group. These valuable training opportunities have given the OOW trainees an opportunity to prove to the Commanding Officer they can operate in a high tempo environment. Success’ operation crew has also got involved, with Procedural Air Controller’s onboard conducting all flying briefs.
The aircrew training has been second to none allowing Pilots, Observers and Aircrewmen opportunities to operate at sea and gain an understanding of how a ship works in conjunction with a flight. It has shown the aviation department the large amount of work and time required by Aircrew to carry out such operations. The Observers have relished the opportunity to conduct real time surface search operations and navigation exercises at sea. All of this training has been instrumental as they prepare for operational roles in the future.
 Embarked flight from 723 Squadron embarked on HMAS Success.  Shot of embarked flight from 723 Squadron through HMAS Success superstructure. |
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