Sailing across the Indian Ocean on its way to Anzac Cove and beyond, the Royal Australian Navy helicopter frigate HMAS Anzac has kept itself busy with daily flying operations using the ship’s embarked AS350BA Squirrel helicopter.
The flying operations have been a good opportunity to consolidate the skills of the flight crew; the ship’s embarked flight team and a range of crew members who are involved in the daily flying operations.
Anzac’s Flight Commander, Lieutenant Commander Nick Plenty, is overseeing the program to ensure that the ship can maximise the value of the Squirrel – a light utility and training aircraft from 723 Squadron.
Throughout our deployment on NORTHERN TRIDENT 2015, the embarked flight will be used for a range of activities, including personnel and materiel transport, search and rescue, and mission support operations.
The range of training operations undertaken has included deck landing practices, navigation sorties, and utility exercises such as vertical replenishments and passenger transfer operations over both the ship’s flight deck and forecastle.
HMAS Anzac is currently deployed on NORTHERN TRIDENT 2015 during which it will participate in the Centenary of ANZAC commemorations in April, followed by a series of important international engagements.
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Image: Australian Navy