723 Squadron

Commanding Officer: Commander Samuel Dale

723 Squadron is the Australian Defence Force's helicopter training squadron operating the EC-135T2+ helicopter at the Joint Helicopter School at HMAS Albatross.

The Squadron delivers helicopter training for Navy and Army pilots, Navy Aviation Warfare Officers and Navy and Army Aircrewman, as well as training for Navy and Army helicopter instructors. Secondary roles include limited fleet support including range clearances and flight deck procedural training.

With over seven decades of helicopter operations, 723 Squadron has assisted numerous activities in support of the civil community. These include support during the Black Christmas Bushfire crisis that swept through New South Wales from Christmas Eve 2001 until mid-January 2002. The Squadron also played a supporting role in the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire response. In both cases the Squadron was tasked with the provision of logistic support to firefighters on the ground, fire spotting and as transport for the key RFS personnel. 723 Squadron also provided assistance during the 2011 floods in South East Queensland and Victoria, the 2012 floods in the Wagga Wagga region.

The Squadron is jointly staffed by Navy and Army personnel, with contractor support provided by both Boeing Defence Australia and Thales. Command of the unit has alternated since the introduction of the Joint Helicopter School, with LTCOL Richard Green the first Army Commanding Officer of the unit for the 2020-21 period. Navy, Army and contractor aircrew operate side by side, and share the task of training Navy and Army students, in the state of the art facility, extensive line up of simulators and training devices, and in the skies around Nowra, NSW, flying the EC-135T2+ training helicopter.

Airbus EC-135T2+ helicopters await their first trainees at the Joint Helicopter School at HMAS Albatross.

History

More information about 723 Squadron's history is available online.