Flight training in the Central highlands for pilots and aircrew of the Australian Defence Force is winding down as the visiting 5th Aviation Regiment turns its attention to supporting the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) during Exercise Wantok Warrior.
Around 100 ADF personnel and four CH-47F Chinook helicopters have conducted daily flights around the Owen Stanley Ranges as part of Exercise Helicon Luk 2025, an annual activity aimed at getting pilots and aircrew qualified to fly at altitude and in mountainous terrain.
5th Aviation Regiment Pilot, Captain Lloyd Struber, said being qualified to fly at high-density altitude and in mountainous environments was necessary to prepare the unit to operate in all conditions and in all terrain.
“The aircraft behaves differently at higher-density altitudes because the air is thinner, you’re using more power but creating less lift, and if we’re to go out the door on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, or defence aid to the civil community, or combat missions, we have to be able to fly everywhere,” Captain Struber said.
At Townsville in North Queensland, where the 5th Aviation Regiment typically trains, the highest peak is around 1700 feet or 518 metres. In the Central highlands the pilots fly and practice take-off and landing manoeuvres in altitudes above 9000 feet (2743 metres).
The challenging flying conditions in the Central highlands are nothing new for the Officer Commanding Task Unit Brahman. Major Adam Potter first travelled to PNG for high-density altitude training in 2016, back then he was piloting an S-70A-9 Blackhawk.
“Papua New Guinea is a beautiful country that offers access to terrain, and environments that don’t exist within Australia - he communities out there are phenomenal, it’s wonderful to see them get out and embrace our presence. I look forward to seeing future iterations of Ex Helicon Luk and other exercises as we grow our relationship as alliance partners under the PNG-AUS Mutual Defence Treaty (Pukpuk Treaty)", Major Potter said.
Ends.
A CH-47F Chinook from the 5th Aviation Regiment lands near the villages Kerau and Tapini during Exercise Helicon Luk 2025 in the Papua New Guinea Central highlands.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100